"My son was bullied quite a lot."
My son's school spent a week on "anti-bullying", which included reading and doing a book report with a homosexual theme (that is the real agenda of the anti-bullying campaign).
I had a meeting with the teacher over the book and she tried to blow it off as being nothing and that the "anti-bullying" was very important. I told her I taught my son there were only two things he needs to know about bullies, that is, if he's bullied to haul off and knock the tar out of the bully. The other thing was if I ever heard he bullied anyone I'd knock his block off.
Sounds a lot like what I've told MY boys. In fact, it sounds EXACTLY like what I've told my boys.
Regards,
PS: I'd also hand them their heads if they ever did anything like what the little darlings in the story did, too.
What really caught my attention last year was when the teacher contacted me and told me my son had punched a child. She didn't see it, so there wasn't anything that could be done about it; the other child told her the day after it happened. I talked to my son about it and he said the other child pushed him, he pushed back, the kid pushed again, and my son punched him. We've always taught the boys, walk away from words, if they touch you, have at it. We will never get after them for self-defense. My son is a very fun loving, easy going child. We were all shocked to learn he hit this kid, but hey, we know he listens.
That is exactly what I have taught my sons and daughter. They know I will not tolerate bullies but I will defend anyone who sticks up for themselves.