Bullies have been around forever, but in this technological age we encounter the bully in its newest form—the cyberbully. Where once upon a time, a bullied child could have temporary refuge in his or her own home, the long arm of the Internet has reached into even that safe space. The 48 Hours segment covers a full range of stories:  bullying victim 13-year old Dara Genovese who says “being bullied, harassed, tortured [is the] the worst feeling ever”; parent Cynthia Logan who lost her daughter to suicide after she was bullied; Johnny Cagno, a victim of bullying who attempted suicide at age 14 and his mother Lisa, who moved Johnny from school to school, trying to save her son; and finally the assistant principal and social worker of a Rhode Island school who said “enough” and took on the bullying issue in their student body.

Birchwood middle school's social worker, Liz Vachon, started a support group for bullied children, and tried creative solutions such as an anonymous box for reporting incidents of bullying, peer moderators and having over 50 students write and perform skits, poems and songs about being bullied, performing the collaborative play for their classrooms. She also created the Can't Bully in School program.

CBS News/48 Hours spent six months filming in Birchwood middle school; CBS News/48 Hours Senior executive producer Susan Zirinsky is extremely passionate about this project, calling the problem of bullying “a domestic war of terrorism”. Her passion  for change and answers, as well as the passion of the students, parents and faculty in this drama, make “Bullying: Words Can Kill” not only a worthwhile hour of television, but, in my humble opinion, necessary viewing for any thinking parent.

The CBS News/48 Hours presentation“Bullying:Words Can Kill”, with links to the CBS News website, will have important new information for parents, educators and legislators about how bullying affects children and how to address it. Viewers can also join the conversation online on Facebook and Twitter.

Update 9/19: If you missed the broadcast or would like to watch it again, click here.