^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Not to proud of it, but I bullied a kid back when I was in 5th grade. He was "weak" physically. When I ran into him 30 some years later and apologized he was cool with it. Glad I had the opportunity to do so.

He directed me to his web site Fish Chaser
He was always into fishing, and a talented artist. He has done well, I'm glad.

didn't mean he was cool with me bullying him, he accepted my apologies. He admitted that he brought some of it on himself...not that that is any excuse for my actions.

Big kid got suspended for pushing the teacher and foul language.

My kid is fine and probably has a bit of new street cred. Apparently my son pushed the big kid to the ground after the kid got off him.

Anyways, all is good now

I'm going to take my son and his buddies to the Avengers this weekend.

Good.

This has been a very interesting thread from a number of perspectives.

When I was in High School at Newbury Park HS in California in the '70's, the coaches and PE instructors had a set of huge boxing gloves...when things got chippy between two guys, they would clear the gym, have the two protagonists don the gloves and box until they were exhausted.

No one except the coaches and PE instructors were allowed to watch the fight.

I have no idea if parents were called for permission, etc. All I know is that it seemed to be a very effective way of easing tensions without getting someone hurt.

Boxing is hard work.

Different time, I know, but often the best possible avenue for teenage boys to settle their differences is to have them go toe to toe in a safe environment.

The advice my stepdad game me... when I was getting bullied by a kid much bigger than me. (as were most kids unfortuantely)


"When he starts pushing you, the instant he drops his hands hit him in the nose as hard as you can. Do it a few times if you can. More than likely you will get your a$$ kicked. However after 2-3 time of this, the bully will get tired of getting his nose bloodied and find someone that won't fight back."

He was right on all counts. That said, on time number 3, I fricken buried the guy I was so angry. Never got bullied again, by anyone. :) If they suspended me, My Dad would have been in school with me lobbying and never would have gotten in trouble. I HATE the sissification of boys today.

Have a similar situation with a kid in my sons first grade class. Not bullying per se, but no sense of personal space or decorum. He tries to crush kids by "hugging" them and they all hate it. When the teachers ask he says "I was just showing them I love them.". (Catholic school). I advised my son to push his hand up under the kids chin with his palm next time, HARD. He asked me "What happens when I get in trouble?" I told him I'll buy him an icecream and take him down to the school and get THEM in trouble for forcing you into doing this. :)

Yes, boys sometimes just need to go toe-to-toe.

Yes, boxing is hard work.

Bullies almost invariably will leave people alone who stick up for themselves. Bullies pick on those who don't stick up for themselves.

The way to win a fight is to punch the other guy in the face rapidly and keep doing this until the fight is over. This tends to take about twenty seconds. Do not shuck and jive and play defense. Fist fighting is pure offense. In my hometown, fighting was the principle recreational activity, particularly after the bowling alley burned down.

It sounds like the situation is resolved, Twobone. If the problem recurs, I would somewhat storm into the school and insist they describe to me their plan for addressing it.

I did this when I worked in Defence. If some guys where starting to anoy me I'd wait until one day when the gym instructor didn't turn up and I'd say "OK, Im taking over, it's boxing day." And really sort out thses pricks without getting into trouble over it :)