No child can learn in a climate of fear. Although it would be impossible to eradicate bullying from the educational environment, it should not be swept aside as an unavoidable challenge to be endured or a developmental storm to be weathered.

So it's encouraging to see public-school officials trying to deal with the problem of bullying and harassment on campus, one of the principal barriers to learning. A Board of Education ad-hoc committee is considering advice from top school administrators as well as leaders in the law enforcement community.

One idea that has won support from prosecutors and state schools Superintendent Pat Hamamoto is the coordination of information about juvenile offenses, whether they occur on or off campus. That approach deserves the board's endorsement and support.

As Hamamoto observed, weekend or after-hours conflicts often can lead to retaliation or other tensions when school resumes, and an informed school staff is better equipped to head off problems. And what might be seen as a minor infraction on campus may be part of a larger problem that should be handled under the juvenile criminal code.

But this coordination would be just one element in a more comprehensive approach that's needed at schools from kindergarten on up.

Intimidation and harassment has grown more pervasive since the explosion of Internet sites and messaging systems that appeal to teens. Some of the bullying occurs below the school radar, in cyberspace, where tormentors can operate undercover.

Rather than feel defeated by the scope of the problem, Hawai'i can learn from the experience of other states.

In the past five years, 15 states have adopted laws addressing bullying. While they vary in approach, several state laws encourage schools to implement a bullying-prevention program, and others require or encourage individuals to report school bullying incidents to authorities.

These ideas have potential, but let's not waste time studying them to death. The corrosive effect of bullying needs to be countered by a collective effort, and there are also things individuals can do on their own.

One is to be informed. The Web is teeming with information and helpful tips. The Stop Bullying Now site for adults (http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/adult/indexAdult.asp) provides one starting point.

Parents need to take reports of such problems seriously — and support their children in getting the disciplinary direction or other help they need. Those who are able to volunteer on campuses could create a kind of "neighborhood watch" team to improve oversight of student behavior and alert authorities as needed.

Many students say they feel powerless and report that their complaints are waved off when they finally find the courage to report them; intervention by a sensitive teacher or administrator could keep the problem from festering and causing deeper emotional problems.

These are serious issues. And educators and families need to confront this issue head-on, or our kids will pay the price.