You are correct, it is abuse. When I went to school, which is many decades ago, my teachers did not allow any bullying going on and explained that it is cruel to bully another child for something that was not his or her fault.
Teachers say that now; and they have counselors that come into the classroom and take all the classroom time to discuss bullying. Anti-bullying education is a huge thing in the schools.
The problem is when there is bullying the teachers won’t do anything. The teachers are afraid to get a hold of a bully and take them to the principal which is what used to happen. Now teachers are afraid to get involved, afraid they will be fired or sued. It is easier for them to pretend they don’t see it happening.
The bullies know nothing is going to actually be done so they feel free to bully. So I think bullying is far more common now and worse than it used to be.
Teachers and principals talk a big game about being against it now but it is a total joke. I have a cousin who is a counselor in a public school setting and her daughter was bullied relentlessly by a classmate and also a member of the basketball team. Abuse that had been over social media, to verbal abuse and mocking to finally a violent physical assault.
My cousin documented all these events, took them to the teacher, coach and principal and they did nothing. Finally the girl assaulted her daughter and it sent her to the ER. It was caught on video and the result, the girl was suspended for a game and when it came time for the game she was suspended from to be enforced the coach and principal overrode the suspension it, the result, nothing, absolutely nothing. They went to the school board, same result. Whenever I hear “educators” rail about no tolerance for bullies I call BS!
My youngest son a couple of years ago had his glasses snatched from his face and broken on the bus. I called the principal and the driver had witnessed it and saw it all and it went down like my son said. I asked what are you going to do about this? Well the boy is from a poor family and started making excuses.
I stopped him and said this is bullying, either do something about it or I will tell my son to stomp this kid the next time he lays a finger on him. Oh you can’t have him fighting. I said it’s a fight or I call the police department and make this a criminal assault and we will take this out of your hands. My brother in law is the chief of police and we will get law enforcement involved I am not putting up with this crap all year, how do you want to do this, make your choice. The kid was kicked off the bus for the rest of the year and wrote a long apology letter. He never touched or bothered my son again.