BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- On Friday, a bullying workshop was held in Bakersfield for school administrators, teachers, counselors, and law enforcement.

The group learned how they can work together to deal with bullying on campus, but it won't be an easy battle.

Bullying often is associated with fights involving punching, hitting and kicking, but there's another type that's even worse.

"Indirect bullying can best be described as psychological terrorism," said Wayne Sakamoto, director of the Safe Schools program.

Sakamoto said indirect bullying is worse because it's difficult to document.

That form of bullying is a situation Marcee Waymire and her 9-year-old daughter know all too well.

"The other little girl is telling all the other girls, 'Oh, don't be friends with her,'" said Waymire. "These kids don't want to stand up for what is right, because they're afraid they're going to be bullied as well."

Waymire has gone to the principal several times, but was told it's hard to discipline this type of bullying. However, Waymire said the school did try to remedy the situation

"(They) talked to the class as a whole, and then they separated the girls and talked to the girls," she said.

But the bullying continued.

"It hurts really bad," Waymire said. "It's kind of devastating when your baby is being hurt."

While the problem is happening at school, Sakamoto said bullying is a societal issue.

"Our kids are inundated with this message that the top dog wins, and you win at all costs, and aggression is acceptable," he said.

At the workshop, Sakamoto helped school administrators, teachers and campus security come up with plan to prevent and deal with bullying.

As for parents, he said the best step they can take it just sit and listen to their children.

Sakamoto also cautioned that parents shouldn't get so involved that they make it worse.

"The worst thing (they) can do is go to that campus and start stirring things up, because the bully or bullies will see mom or dad rolling to campus to try and take care of the student, and it just makes it worse in youth culture," he explained.

Unfortunately, bullying is an ongoing problem and Waymire is trying to make the best of it.

"This is going to be a really good learning lesson for her on how to deal with mean people," said Waymire. "They surround us, unfortunately."
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For more information about bullying and cyber-bullying, click on any of the links below:

Stop Bullying Now!

California Department of Education

cyberbullying.ca