But I have one comment to make. It's about the victim fighting back. When I was an inner-city high school teacher, I saw a few instances of the victim fighting back. In every case, the bully won. Remember, the bully has thug friends ready to jump in - and later retaliate - the victim does not.
The idea of the victim hitting the bully and making him cry happens so rarely it can be considered just TV fantasy.
Bullies make their victims' lives continuous misery. Very little upside there.
So what's the solution? It's as you said, a visit to the PE coach's office. That's one fight the bully will ALWAYS lose.
Well, actually, it does happen, although inner-city with gangster wannabes is tougher.
When I was in second grade, there was a bully who went around picking on kids during recess. One day, he started on me, and wouldn't stop. So I finally punched him in the stomach and knocked him down. He never bothered me again.
In prep school, there was a bully who came into my room with a bunch of guys and started calling me names. I finally punched him in the stomach. But this time the bully was tougher. He punched me back in the eye, and knocked me out for a couple of minutes. But evidently my taking him on was enough, because he didn't bother me again.
When some of the teachers asked me why I had a black eye, I gave them the usual excuse, since it was NEVER done to rat on anybody. I told them I ran into a doorknob by accident.
What you experienced in the inner-city is true for the ‘burbs and heartland, too. BTDT