In US public schools, a child can be suspended or expelled for fighting back bullies...
Wow a two fer. Actually, the last time I had to stand up to a bully I was a senior in HS. Half the class told the principle that they weren't coming to school if he expelled me. I got six stitches in my lip which the bully paid for, but that's all that happened.
That's extraordinary. You went to school with some wonderful, caring people. The students in my high school were very selfish and sour. They delighted in seeing others suffer and weren't afraid to admit it.
An elbow strike to the eyebrow will produce a ton of blood.