[hellbender]

I don't know whether bullying was a factor in this case, but I do know that no one who hasn't been seriously bullied, stalked, or harassed over a long period has the slightest clue of what this does to the victim. It is utterly ruinous. I could easily imagine bullying leading to justifiable homicide.

Also, bullying has nothing to do with teachers punishing people who "stand out," nor is it likely to happen in classrooms. It is more likely to happen in hallways, stairwells, bathrooms, locker rooms, etc. As I said before, many of the perpetrators are junior sociopaths who are headed for a life of violent crime. They are the ones who should be rooted out of schools--not the Asperger's types, assuming the latter are able to behave in class.

[perseid 67]

Not all sociopaths will land in jail. It is possible to go through life abusing other people ,but never once break any law. Sociopaths gravitate to positions where they have authority over other people.

One of the worst sociopaths I ever had the misfortune of meeting stood idly by watching through the corner of her eye while I was pummeled by a much bigger student in the hall. She was not the only jerk teacher I ever met.

A bar which allowed patrons to be abused (in such a manner) would receive so many fines, it would be forced to close its doors forever. How public schools are allowed to get away with abusing students I will never understand.