DR. WALLACE: I'm a student in high school and I'll keep my school name and location anonymous, but I want to share some things I've observed recently on our campus.

There are several small packs of kids, mostly but not always boys, who pick on other students. This usually goes on between classes and at lunchtime. It breaks my heart to see a fellow student picked on and bullied for no reason other than that bullied student is quiet, odd, meek or very shy.

The thing that really bothers me is that sometimes I have witnessed with my own eyes a few teachers notice this behavior and literally do nothing! One day a teacher saw a particularly bad episode and she just stared at the situation for 30 seconds, and then, while it was still going on, she turned and walked toward our lunchroom area and left them as they were. She didn't say anything!

I feel that if teachers won't intervene when they see bullying going on right in front of their eyes, that this gives those doing the bullying a "green light" to do whatever they want to whoever they want whenever they want to. Is there anything I can do about this? — Shocked and Appalled, via email

SHOCKED AND APPALLED: Yes, there is something you can do about this, and I recommend you act right away. The very next day you're at school after reading this, I recommend that you go to the administration office and speak to the school principal.

Be bold and tell him exactly what you saw that day and bring up any previous experiences you have also witnessed with your own eyes first. Do not bring up any other situations that you may have heard about from other students since you didn't witness them yourself. Stick to the ones that you know are factual from your firsthand perspective and tell the principal exactly what you have seen. It's also fair for you to ask the principal what actions will likely be taken at this point and what the school's overall policy on bullying is.

You should also mention this to your parents and explain to them everything you've seen and that you plan to talk to the school principal. I trust your parents will agree with you regarding this matter, and they may even wish to attend the meeting with you, which is fine if they prefer to do so.

You are doing the right thing to step up and explain to authorities at the school something you know is wrong that needs to be corrected. Your school's principal and the school district superintendent are the responsible parties here. You and your parents have every right to require them to address the situation quickly, fairly and professionally.

SHOULD I WARN HER?

DR. WALLACE: I recently broke up with my boyfriend of the last five months because I found out he was flirting with and courting other girls during the past six weeks while he was supposedly dating me exclusively.

Now I've learned that he's dating a girl I don't know too well, but I understand she's a very nice person who is well liked by her many friends. I hate to see her get involved with this lousy guy so I'm considering speaking up.

I'm thinking about talking with her directly about my experiences with my ex-boyfriend, or at least sitting down with one of her close friends to tell everything I know about this louse.

Do you think this would be a wise idea, or should I simply stay out of everyone else's business? — Don't Want Him to Waste Her Time, via email

DON'T WANT HIM TO WASTE HER TIME: I suggest the best way to cut your losses here is just simply forget about him entirely. Stay out of his business and her business, and allow your mind to focus in another direction entirely.

Rather than thinking about him, spend your time thinking about your own friends, those you enjoy spending time with. Networking with them and their friends will soon enough lead you to meet a few potentially compatible other guys you might like to date in the future.

Regarding this other girl, you already know a little bit about her, and based upon that information it is highly likely that she will be able to handle herself just fine. Within a reasonable amount of time, she will come to learn what you have already discovered about this guy, and she can make her own decisions about him accordingly.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@thegreatestgift.com. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

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