Since 1987, the United States has experienced two epidemics of youth violence. The first occurred in cities and the second more recent epidemic occurred in suburban and rural schools. Bullying is viewed as extremely relevant to the larger issues of perceiving a threat to oneself and interpersonal disputes. Chapter 1 discusses bullying in the 21st century amidst the problems of truancy, suicide, crime, teacher shortages, learning issues, and witnessing violence. Chapter 2 presents the characteristics of the bullies, the targets, and the witnesses to bullying. Chapter 3 distinguishes between physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual bullying. Chapter 4 puts bullying in a social context. The complex factors affecting bullying include the individual, the family, the school, the community, and the culture. Chapter 5 focuses on the gender issues of bullying and the differences in the ways boys and girls bully. Chapter 6 discusses the skills children need from adults to cope with bullying, such as social skills, conflict resolution, respect, assertiveness, problem solving, empathy, and sexuality. Chapters 7 through 10 discuss strategies for students, parents, teachers and educators, and schools, respectively. Chapter 11 discusses policies and legislation in regard to this issue. Chapter 12 presents the challenges for the future. Chapter 13 presents letters from children as bullies, targets, and witnesses. 50 notes, index