Bullying is an ongoing problem nationwide, and Haywood County is no exception.

Bullying can take many forms and happens at most grade levels, but the result is always the same. Children who are bullied are at high risk for poor academic performance, mental disorders, substance abuse and suicide.

According to Stopbullying.org, a small number of bullied children might retaliate through extremely violent measures.

“In 12 of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied,” according to the advocacy website.

Some parents and students in Haywood don’t feel like the schools’ policies against bullying are strict enough, including Pisgah student Kristian Buckner, mother of three Joy Stepp and Central Haywood senior Charles Flesch, who have recently shared how ...