Bullies.

A video of a fat boy retaliating against bullies at school has appeared on T.V..

This has stimulated a debate about how to handle bullying.
The fat boy was suspended for retaliating but many on the internet supported his actions.

Bullies are people who are afraid of being bullied so they strike first in order to scare off potential bullies.  They pick on people more vulnerable than themselves.

This culture of bullying comes from the top.

At the grammar school which I attended the old headmaster was dismissed because the parents thought he was too lenient.  Under his authority the School had had a reputation for children not being bullied.

When the new headmaster was appointed he brought with him an English school tradition of discipline.  Under his authority bullying thrived.

A culture of fear and violence comes from the top.
From the headmaster to the teachers to the students.

The new headmaster may have had a violent father, he definitely had a violent headmaster.

So the fear is passed down from generation to generation.


N.B.  We can see bullying in our politicians and media, also in sports and movies.
While we  are showing our children this example we will never stop the bullying in schools.

Photo Credit: mangee Flickr via Compfight cc