There was a fight between two middle-school boys. This is not a new thing. I think it’s unfortunate, but many men would disagree, believing that fights between boys are a natural part of growth, and that preventing them results in the feminization of all sorts of things. (Fistfights between boys happen even in homeschools.)
What is new, however, is the quick recourse to social media by the mother. I can imagine a situation in which institutional schooling suffers considerable losses of personnel because every academic or discipline situation ends up as a public madhouse.
Usually disabled kids don’t get into fistfights...
They are just beaten...
Problem is these days in schools both kids would be suspended. Had this boy defended himself he too would be suspended from school. Please don’t ask me why I think its retarded. Something about “zero tolerance”. So the bullies run wild, they know they can get away with it and they don’t care if they are suspended.
Nevertheless, where a BULLY is concerned--I don't think it's, per se, a fight of equals.
Typically it is a bully from a big degree of attachment disorder feel compelled to attack--often relentlessly, mercilessly--some kid who is somehow different and the difference is perceived as intolerable by the bully.
imho, that's not a fair fight between equals. It is a seriously RAD, ANGRY, PRICKLY, VIOLENT, etc. troubled BULLY determined to strike out at almost any likely nearby victims.
I don't think a "let em go at it" fight of equals is involved in such cases.
And, I don't think pretending that a BULLY CAN participate in a fair-fight of equals will solve much of anything. The Bully needs to be held accountable AND get some serious prolonged treatment--as likely do his parents also need long term treatment.