” the confrontation was otherwise par for the course at a busy middle school filled with 800 hormonal adolescents in grades 7 and 8.”
Not when I went to Jr. High back around 1991-1993. And my school was no den of saints.
I credit the abundance of male teachers. Old school dudes that could put you in your place just by you knowing that they are even looking in your general direction.
I'm quite a bit older... when I went to Jr. High in the early 60's, you did not want to be misbehaving, or worse yet, fighting, in front of Mr. Hatch. A formidable, crew-cut, 250-lb somewhat sadistic vocational arts teacher... when he was around, even the toughest kids went meek.
Boys did not fight girls at the school I attended. Boys protected girls.