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Not sure what the author is arguing for in the second part of the story. That the school should be more proactive with bullies? Seems that the "solution" of the giant killers is what most people here would argue for, yet it ends up in the same place (gangs).
The schools are somewhat in a no-win situation. My son's elementary school has a "no bullies" policy. Great, right? Well, the problem is that due to the rules and implementation, someone sticking up for themselves gets tarred with the same brush.
I don't think the schools are wholly to blame here. It is the parents that allow (and some even encourage) their kids to become bullies. There often is a fine line between standing up for one's self and becoming part of the problem. But I have to say that I've said more than once to the principal, "let the kids work it out on the playground..."
I remember when I was in 5th grade I used to walk a long ways to school (I changed schools twice because my mom was a teacher and wanted me at a better school, long story). Anyway I used to walk with one or two friends, one of whom was kind of small for his age and a little geeky. I certainly had my geeky side but I also was good at sports, having made "majors" in little league at age 10, and playing other stuff as well. We used to get bothered by a couple of older kids who walked to the junior high school (which we had to walk past). They taunted us, to which we just ignored it. But they got more and more incessant, and started throwing things, chasing us, etc.
Finally one day they brought eggs that they had put in socks. One of them hit my friend with one, and another on threw a dirt clod and it hit me in the face right below my eye. In that moment, which I clearly recall to this day, I snapped and game was on. Looking through tears and rage, I found a nice sized rock on the ground. The guy who threw the dirt clod from about 6' away from me was running away and laughing. I picked up the rock, took dead aim, and let it fly. Got him right in the middle of the back at about 15' away. He dropped like he'd been shot. And stopped laughing.
They never bothered us again. Of course today his parents would have sued mine and/or his buddy would have pulled out a glock and shot me.
No easy answer. Fix the parents, fix the home environment. School is secondary.
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