Bullying isn't just a school problem, it's a social problem. It is a problem that every individual in the United States deals with in some capacity. Bullying is everywhere. It's on the preschool playground, in the schools, in colleges, in relationships, in the workplace, in the military, in politics, in the elder-care system. It's nationwide, it's systemic, it's epidemic.

Child bullies who don't receive the proper intervention and treatment simply grow up to be grownup bullies. Who hasn't been on the receiving end of a bully boyfriend or girlfriend, a bully boss or coworker, a bully friend or acquaintance, a bully salesperson or telemarketer, and the list goes on.

And who hasn't seen news reports of overly aggressive sports figures, officers who use excessive force during an arrest, or abuses of military authority. Aggression and violence are ingrained in American culture.

This problem isn't going to go away anytime soon. That is a fact. But if change is implemented at the lowest level, where kids learn that violence and aggression is completely unacceptable, a real societal change might result. This means change has to begin with the family.

Too often, by the time kids who bully reach school age, they have already been exposed to years of violence and aggression. To expect teachers to undo years of social conditioning is unrealistic. But it's not unrealistic to expect teachers to convey to even the youngest children that taunting, teasing, and aggressive behaviors will not be tolerated in school.