The kids were being silly and perhaps teachers and school administration should have announced they were not to do it or they would be penalized.The 11 child should not have been given a platform to do what school administration should have been doing. They know kids at that age tease peers.Sounds like her old man was driving this thing with appeals to newspaper and on facebook.
It was kids being silly, and adults totally mis-handling the situation. As you say. But the girl is still a brave girl. She didn’t buckle or shut up.