One Atlanta county school district designates January as bully awareness month

DeKalb County, Atlanta school district officials recently voted to make January "bullying awareness month," reports CBS Atlanta.

Officials told the news source that a year-long program will aim to educate teachers, administrators and students on methods that can prevent bullying in class and online. Furthermore, they added that any cases of harassment will allow the schools to bring in support, such as counselors or police.

The recent push for a bullying prevention program comes after an 11-year-old student committed suicide in 2009, which his parents claim resulted from being bullied. However, DeKalb investigators found other factors that contributed to the child taking his own life.

Parents are becoming more concerned that little is done to punish bullies. Some individuals are suggesting that parents should be held accountable if their child is found to bully others.

Boarding schools can help problem teens who bully their peers by designing individualized education and therapy that promotes behavioral improvement.

According to the Cyberbullying Research Center, a total of 7.5 percent of students reported being harassed online in 2009.