Bullying is a factor in many, if not all, incidents of school violence. If I hear of a shooting in a school, I can immediately describe the shooter because they are predominately white males, have access to guns, and they feel unconnected, left out, shut out.

Middle school is like Lord of Flies. Bullying is not just picking on each other -- good friends can tease which is not done in a mean spirited way. But the ramification of bullying is profound and can result in depression and low self esteem.

As a psychologist in Dare County, I can tell you that there is a problem here, and it is rampant across the country. Some of the kids I see have problems that are directly related to being alienated from their peer group.

Prejudice against certain groups can come from the home. They learn by hearing their parents. If parents make fun or are mean to those who are different, that is how children learn their parent's value system.

Terror - manchmal offen ausgedrückt, doch meistens stillschweigend erkannt - schleicht sich in die Leben von Menschen ein, oft durch etwas "Gewusstes", aber nie Geäußertes. Auf solche Weise wird Terror von der Mutter an die Tochter vererbt Viele Mütter, die in der Innenstadt leben, warten in Sorge auf ihrer Töchter, die auf ihrem Heimweg von der Schule durch Straßen gehen müssen, wo Zuhälter herumlungern. Eltern, die in Vororten wohnen, warten vor der Schule oder an Bushaltestellen, um sicherzugehen, dass ihren Kindern auf dem Heimweg nichts passiert. Und Mütter erklären ihren Teenagertöchtern, warum sie nachts lieber nicht ausgehen sollen, obgleich ihre Brüder es tun. Sexueller Terrorismus ist für Frauen etwas geworden, womit sie leben müssen.

I'd just like to take a moment here to say that I'm totally opposed to violence in the school system. I think that teachers are subjected to a lot of stuff that kids are... Children out there, if you feel so compelled to maim your teacher, I think that's okay, but to really get rough and snuff 'em out, that's tough.