Some years ago, when my boys were in Jr High, you could not defend yourself in a fight. If you did, both were suspended for fighting.
The ‘proper’ defense response was to curl up in a fetal position and call for a teacher.
I had the same experience when my son was in Jr High. They explained their policy carefully. When they were done I explained my policy. Lurker Jr was being bullied at the time.
“OK I understand your policy. Now I want you to understand mine. If my son is attacked he is instructed to defend himself with the appropriate level of force to stop the attack. If you take any action whatsoever against him for doing so I will sue the District as an entity. I will also sue personally every single person involved if formulating or carrying out such an idiotic and dangerous policy. You people are legally, morally, and ethically responsible for the safety of my child while he’s in your care. If you fail at that I will see you all bankrupted, unemployed, unemployable, and living in the streets.”
The next day I sent a registered letter to their attention stating the same. At the bottom of that letter I cc’d a lawyer whose name I picked randomly from the phone book.
The day that letter arrived I got a call from the Principal telling me there was no need to involve the legal system and that I had simply misunderstood them.
The bullying ceased.
***you could not defend yourself in a fight.***
And yet those rules failed to keep a bully and his cronies from attacking you.