How do you know his son was being beaten? How do you know his son is smaller?
Don't know the father, don't know the son. But I do teach 12 year olds every Sunday. There are HUGE differences in these kids. Some of the kids have hit puberty and not only have 6-18 inches, and 20-100 lbs on other kids the same age; they may also have the testostone at levels that make them aggressive. I have one kid who is 12 yrs old, weighs 180 and stands just under 6 ft (I'm 6 ft); I have other kids who are 80 lbs drippign wet and less than 5 ft tall.