The pain factor in all of deliberations on this theory was most succinctly and purely expressed by a young girl who waited patiently in line at the conclusion of a school assembly to tell Fried something she had learned in Sunday School. “Hurt people, hurt people” she said softly and rushed away to her next class. Her tone of voice revealed that “hurt” was first an adjective and then, a verb.

Hurt people, hurt people – so simple, yet so profound. How can we discover these hidden caves of pain inside of our children’s souls?

Was there anyone who could have changed the outcome?

There is the case of Andy Williams, the fifteen-year-old student at Santana High School in California, who killed two students and wounded thirteen other people. His classmates had taunted him because of his small size, pale complexion, and high voice. Students would regularly beat him up and call him a “pussy.” Following his arrest, Andy told investigators he planned to run away and kill himself after the shooting. Instead, he will spend fifty years in prison—three years in a juvenile prison and forty-seven years in a maximum-security facility. Was there anyone in his school who knew about the bullying? Were there any witnesses who could have intervened in his behalf or alerted adults? Was there anyone who could have changed the outcome for all concerned?

Become a champion

Become a champion for children in pain and you will encourage them to become champions for others and touch the lives of people they will never know. Have you been a champion for children in pain, if so, what did you do? What can you do to become a champion for children in pain? How can the children in pain become champions for others?

Why do some kids become bullies?

“Why do some students become bullies?” At first hesitant, then hands flew up. “Because somebody picked on them.” “They’ve got problems at home.” “They don’t feel good about themselves.” “They think it’s cool.” Why do you think some kids become bullies?