Take stand says bullied boy's mum

When a Rotorua teen watched Australian student Casey Heynes fighting back against his bullies he was "jumping out of his seat" and cheering him on.
"He said he wished he had done it," the boy's mum told The Daily Post.
"He was overjoyed that [Casey] had finally stood up for himself. I wish my son had done that. I say 'Good on that kid'."
A cellphone video of Heynes snapping after one of his tormentors punches him, resulting in the bully being slammed to the ground in a wrestling-type move, has received worldwide attention this week.
The Rotorua mum, who did not want to be identified, said she wouldn't normally condone violence but having witnessed her son's personality changing and his studies suffering at the hands of bullies from the age of 8, she was adamant parents had to take a stand.
"My advice for parents if they suspect bullying is to be proactive and keep on at it," the mum said.
"Don't think that them toughing it out is wise. You need to protect your kids as they're only kids for a short time.
"If our boy had done that years ago it would have been over."
Principals who have seen the clip, which has circulated on the internet and made a star of its "have-a-go-hero", want students to take a stand by reporting bullies.
Rotorua Lakes High School principal Bruce Walker said his school regularly dealt with bullies.
The school ran a bi-annual survey in which it asked students to name bullies and those who had fallen victim.
"We know it's hard to tell someone. It's hideous and horrible," he said.
"If you are getting bullied you don't have to put up with it. I would hope this video prompts people to come out and talk about it.
"Deep down I thought good on him, to be honest.
"It's probably the wrong thing to say but he was pushed and he retaliated."
He said his school had dealt with students who had lashed out at bullies.
John Paul College principal and Secondary School Principals' Association president Patrick Walsh found the video shocking.
"It's a very sad situation that a boy could suffer that degree of bullying for that length of time and the school not identify it."
Mr Walsh said he also found it sad the boy did not seek help.
"I've heard students talk about it. It's the old story of the victim triumphing over evil - the little guy taking the stand. There's been a lot of support for him."
He said junior students at his school had completed a survey on whether they felt safe in school.
Rotorua Boys' High School has a number of programmes it offers its students regarding bullying.
It has a No Blame programme for bullies, which turns the situation around and makes the bullies feel empathy with their victims, as well as a cross-curricular approach called Bully-Proofing Your School.
"If you talk about bullying and know where to go for help, bullying can't flourish," said Tom Hale, head of the school's guidance faculty.
"It's like a virus."
He said bullies were taught how not to bully and then given a role in the classroom to make sure there was no bullying among their peers.
"It turns it around. Instead of going in to bully they go in to look after people."
He said he thought the Australian teen should have sought help.
"We praise kids who come and ask for help. We look after them in terms of confidentiality. There's a way of avoiding it."