"I've got to wonder where Amanda's family was while all this was going on. If her family was dysfunctional, didn't any teachers notice the cuts, the anxiety, the depression?"

Her family could be right where mine were solidly by her side doing what they could in a situation they probably had no experience of. As for teachers well one was actually standing at the bus stop the day eggs were smashed over my head she said and did nothing.

Another thing I learned working with victims is that they are often ashamed of being so "weak" (their own phrasing not mine)that they hide things that would alow others to help.

It is very easy to say give them a taste of their own medicine it often makes things worse as the bully enlists their own posse and changes the odds to their favour.