My PE teacher in Jr High would just nail you in the head with a volleyball if you cut up. And let me tell you he was a volleyball marksman, even from across the gym. Never get away with that today, but let me tell you we all respected the guy.
Well, I certainly had no respect for the PE teachers I mentioned, for them or their designated pack of jackals.
Some adults were bullies as children, I guess, and take vicarious pleasure in subtly encouraging it as adults.