I was the Batman for kids that got bullied. Still some of my favorite memories of school. Being big and athletic helped. I was the captain of my football team, wrestling team and rugby team. But my best friends were the nerdy, geeky kids. I played Dungeons and Dragons, read comic books, loved to draw and write. But my favorite thing to do was intimidate and/or physically take care of dudes who bullied my weaker friends. Man did I love doing that. Maybe that made me a bully to the bullies, but I don’t care.
I have 3 sons now, 13,11, and 6. They are learning to box and wrestle. I teach them to defend their less gifted friends. So far its working well. I do agree there’s too much parental intervention in school though. Kids need to overcome obstacles in order to grow and thrive. As a parent you need to give them the tools and instruction, but you gotta let them handle adversity as it comes their way and not rely on mommy or daddy to step in.
On this dismal post-election morning, your post cheered me up.
God has a special place for those protect the oppressed and the weak.
For the Batman types, so to speak.
LOL, love your stories.
I had a black “street” friend in HS (HS was NOT a problem for me; loved it; younger was the torture) along with a mild white middle-class pal in computer class.
Mild girl was picked on by her YOUNGER and SMALL neighbor incessantly, even as a senior. They had to be on the same bus, where she would do things to her constantly. Minor, mostly, but bothersome and hurtful.
We had computer class first, and our black friend had a class nearby and stopped in. White friend said something about her latest experiences and mentioned she saw the little girl in the hall. Crowded with morning traffic, black friend made a bee-line in the hall to little bully and cornered her, speaking down to her (being taller) very closely. She threatened her for bothering white friend. LOL, bully was afraid from then on! Someone overheard her once saying something about “that big black girl” (BTW, she wasn’t that big - just taller than little bully).