Making him feel respected and improving his self-esteem? I remember how adults used to bullshit me and tell me that low-esteem was why so-and-so was probably bullying me and that I should pity him or at least try to understand.

Fuck that. I believe that there is a tiny tiny percentage of a chance that that is actually ever the cause of bullying.

Maybe I'm biased though. I was a "target" from grades 4-8 and didn't make a single friend until high school. It's a miracle that I'm as well-adjusted as I am. I knew others who weren't as lucky as I.

Sorry for the language in this comment. This is something I have very strong feelings about.