Considering that most teachers I know (it’s quite a few as my husband is one) were the popular, atheletic kids when in school I think you are right about them over looking it or even siding with the bullies.
However, policies that were intended to protect students from teachers have really just encouraged bullying. For example, my husband saw a kid with his arm pulled back, about to punch another kid. He grabbed the kid’s elbow to stop it-kid replied, “You can’t touch me! My mom will sue!” That’s the attitude that kids, parents and administrators have.
Back in the day, teachers used to grab the little jerk kids by the collar and hold up against the lockers to get in their face when they bullied a weaker kid. When in 7th grade my husband tripped a girl and laughed when she fell in front of the class. His teacher pulled him out in the hallway and smacked him on the side of the head, his head hit the locker and he saw stars. The teacher then chewed him out about how you treat people weaker than you and followed with, “Do I need to call your Dad?” Knowing that his dad would follow up with more of the same he answered with, “No sir!” and his budding bullying days were over.
Decent teachers could bully the bullies, so to speak, and keep them in their place. Now, there is no way to stop the really nasty kids, and those kids know it.
I know I will probably hear about how teachers have no right to touch kids, ever. But there are some kids who are jerks and physically hurt other kids over and over-they don’t care about suspension, detention or whatever. Just knowing that there is someone there who is stronger and will not let them get away with it can hold them back.
I appreciate your story. Sadly, that sort of discipline is not allowed in school today. Teachers aren’t allowed to touch students, otherwise be charged with assault themselves. And these out of control kids know it.
Yep, used to be if you got in trouble in school, you also got in trouble at home with the parents. Nowadays, too many parents will sue the school over any discipline done in school to their little angels. The whole atmosphere in school has changed and changed for the worse, in my opinion.
One kid pulled that “you can’t do that” to me once when I grabbed his arm as he was punching another kid. Quietly told him I was protecting myself from his fist and for him to prove otherwise. Another time I paused by a bully and whispered a little something-something and that was the end of that. It has to do with respect as I’d lose a fight with a fly. I quit 5 years ago because the kids were getting worse every year. 100% the parents’ fault.
So I've got the jerk in a pretty defenseless position the other get gets up and punches the bully right in the face. I could feel his knees buckle as I held him up. By the time I walked them both to the office the now silent bully's eye had swelled close.
While it wasn't my intent to hold the bully so the other kid could hit him, I have to admit that the outcome really didn't bother me too much and he was never a problem in my class again.
He was still a jerk everywhere else, I should have let him hit him again.