> More importantly, bullying generally affects only a fairly small number of children

That’s a common misconception. Bullying affects everybody, most of all the bystanders and the societal attitudes as the result. If bystanders don’t interfere to prevent bullying they accept it and only wish it doesn’t happen to them. That perpetuates the notion that the strongest, most violent and cruel rule, deeply rooting it in the minds of the growing adolescents and dictating the prevalent mentality of the society 10-20-30 years forward.