Is your child the target of bullies? Would you know if they were? In this 6 News Investigates.... bullying in our schools... and what parents can do. We talked with 14 year-old Rick Wisor -- who at once point -- had bullies waiting for him everyday.

For Rick Wisor, getting picked on is nothing new - but lately he's been pushed to the limit. "It happened almost all my life. I cannot handle it."

When we talked to him in early March - he said it's tough to walk his usual route home from school - when he knows he's being followed.

"They're telling me to get back in my house saying I'm not allowed to be outside while they're going past and trying to start fights with me."

Officials at Johnstown Middle School - where Rick goes to class - can't comment on this specific case, but they did say all reports of bullying are investigated and teacher's monitor students in the halls. The problem is - Rick's route home isn't monitored. He has to fend for himself - something his father says has changed him.

"I see a lot of fright in him - scared - and he doesn't want to go to school and he's afraid for his life and so are we," says dad Jack Wisor.

We spoke to students from Keith Junior High in Altoona and they believe bullies are usually popular students with a lot of friends. The best targets for bullies? Doctors say - children who seem to be loners - not involved in school. Many times a child with a low self esteem is the target, so these students say - get out there and get involved.

Ninth grader Amber Mallow says, "I think that if they see that you have a back up of a group or something - that you belong to a sports group, or the band, or the orchestra then they won't think of you as such an easy target."

So how can you stop the bullying before it gets too far? First of all - learn some of the warning signs. Unexplained injuries like cuts and bruises, fearful about walking to school or riding the bus, appearing anxious or tearful before or after school. And here is what you can do to help. Encourage you child to share problems with you. Help your child make friends. Or work with other parents to keep an eye out for bullying. Don't be afraid to take a stand against bullies because... as Katie Reilly says, "That can hurt that child for life. That's not just something they can brush off. I mean, when they grow up, they're going to have memories of school they're going to hate and I think everybody should be able to grow up and love school. "

Rick's parents and Johnstown Middle School decided it was best to transfer him to another school. Rick now goes to the Alternative Community Resources Program in Cambria County - where he goes to his regular classes, group therapy, and anger management. His parents say he's a new person - he's no longer anti-social and he's excited to go to school.