"I dropped out of school in the 9th grade after having been singled out to be ostracized, taunted, sexually and verbally harassed and relentlessly bullied throughout most of my school yrs.   Now an adult in my thirties, the two most common responses upon telling my story to others have been: A) Why didn't you fight back? and B) Why didn't the teachers do anything? In answer to the 1st question: bullies bully in groups (oftentimes, quite large ones) making fighting back mostly impossible. As for the adults and their lack of action; bullies choose their victims carefully. Children who aren't 'in' with the teachers, kids who aren't particularly noticed or respected or cared about by the 'power structure' are easy targets. Particularly in the lower grades, children are quick to pick up on who it is that the teacher doesn't particularly like or pay much attention to. In short, the teacher doesn't stop it because the teacher was part of starting it. It's never made any sense to me that while we accept that adults shouldn't be harassed and discriminated against in the workplace, we accept as a normal part of growing up that children should be tormented, humiliated and terrorized in our schools. Just one more thought: interestingly, while I was disciplined for my chronic truancy by being hauled into juvenile court, none, NOT ONE of the bullies who victimized me ever received more than a mild reprimand. Thanks for caring." 
~ Unknown

"I got bullied all through elementary school through middle school and high school.. now I dont talk to anyone and I keep on screwing up relationships because of this"
~ Jon - PA

"I was harassed for many years, beginning in the second to third grade stemming all the way through my freshmen year in high school.  I had cut my hair short, and many older kids teased me and would always ask, are you a girl or a boy?  Knowing well that I was female.  People would make fun of my appearance, and everything about myself.  I was an outgoing individual and loud and loved to have fun.  Every day, in the hall, on the bus, biking to the store, many groups of kids singled me out. I became depressed, suicidal, my self-esteem dropped to nothing.  I wanted to die so many times. Somehow I got through it.  ...I survived, and the healing is probably still going on..."