I'm a 23 year old British guy, and I work with children in an early years setting (for you lot over the pond, thats 0-5) and I personally deal with the 3-5 year olds. Even at that age, hard as it is to admit, you see children that don't just tussle with one another, but I' have to call bullies. We've got boys whom always seem to get involved in hitting, shoving, name calling (which is hilarious, the 3 year old version of name calling is pretty much "My daddy" back and forth, becoming increasingly more agitated) and these particular boys always pick the same specific 'victim'
Now, obviously I don't agree with this. For one thing, its very illegal, and for another, anyone who cannot see the moral problems with a teacher condoning this action and encouraging it just seems heartless to me, I feel its wrong. However, heres the thing., Had the teacher had no part in this, and twenty-four children had just ambushed the child after school or some such, organized by those that felt what he was doing was wrong, I'd find it far harder to find fault.
Now, in an ideal world I don't believe violence should be used to solve problems, but unfortunately it is. I can't peak for America, but over her in Great Britain we start our 'justice' in schools as it means to go on. Short sentences (rarely carried out in favor of community service, generally lasting only a few days), and more of a focus on looking like we're solving problems than actually solving them (For those interested, look up the British polices system of using 'administrative detections' and be appalled. I think its been thrown out now, but until recently it was a sham, and probably still exists under different buzzwords)
So, our youth grow up in schools that teach them the strong, willful bullies and thugs will have their every whim answered to to help them fit into society, because they're not 'bad people' they're just 'challenged' or 'different'. While I think understanding is one of the best things we can do for these people, it should never come at the expense of justice.
Now, the teacher was wrong, thats simple to see, and so were the kids that went along with it because they were told too- but if this kid was generally bullying children in the class, then that hit they took at him was probably the closest thing they'll ever get to justice. Its wrong, and it shouldn't come to that and it's really damn sad.
Violence isn't the answer, not in the long term-its like treating the symptoms of broken society rather that the actual illness. What the 'Illness' needs is a massive overhaul, with new policy, harsher sentences, and a whole host of other things I could rant about which I know plague america as much as britain (Certain practice used by defense lawyers anyone?)but back at school, if a guy was making my life hell I couldn't effect any of those things. Hell, as an adult, I can't affect any of those things. What I can do if a guy antagonizes me or even openly attacks me is damn well give him a taste of his own medicine. I'd probably go TERRIBLY for me, what I know about fighting I learnt from super smash brothers brawl, but if it goes well, then he won't bother me again, perhaps. Its by no means assured, and its a big risk, but its all we have sometimes.
I never know how to wrap these rants up, so I guess I just summarize. That teacher should never work with children again, but a child bullying others, even at a young age, should be met with serious consequences early on regardless, handled with fair understanding (because sometimes its not as cut and dry as 'he's a bastard') but stern enough to dissuade other incidents, with wider society reflecting these values. Kids are smart, and pick up on a lot, and when we thing they're not watching, they always are.
Edit: I'd like to add, VERY long term lurker, first time poster. Thanks for giving me a reason to finally register, Escapist