As the dead are buried up in Red Lake, the analysis of what happened and why continues. It should come as no surprise that bullying is a top suspect.

The isolation one feels when the target of verbal insults, snide remarks or gossip can be unbearable. If there is no one to talk to about it, two things are likely to result: the child withdraws into themselves, learning the language of negative self-talk that will haunt him or her for life; or the victim strikes back.

Neither scenario is acceptable. In both cases, a person’s life will be changed &045; one leading to unmet personal aspirations through low self-esteem; the other escalating to aggressiveness that can result in harm to self or others.

Students interviewed for a Pioneer Press story say some teachers can do more to intervene when bullying is isolating someone; but also acknowledged, wisely, home life plays a role.

When a child has no trusted adult in their life, no one to offer some perspective on a host of situations, it can lead to trouble.

Adults are mentors, whether they see it or not. Children look to the adults in their life to determine how to handle life events, big and small, and if kids see anger, passiveness or an inability to cope, they have no strong example of how they themselves should react.

Every adult must take their role of mentor seriously and demonstrate acceptable reactions for children. Our responsibility goes beyond setting an example, though, it calls for us to be a positive influence in our kids’ lives. We should inspire children to be the best they can be. That requires us to find the good and not allow verbal insults when we can put a stop to it.