(I'm right there with you Grandpa! Sometimes it takes all the power within us to not do what should be done. There will always be creeps who pray on others just for the "fun" of it.
I have a daughter who went through years of bullying. Schools talk a good game about bullying, but when it comes to action, they're impotent. We went through the proper school channels, but little to nothing came from it. They treated her as though she was a bother for making them actually have to try and do something. But the schools minimal actions never had any teeth, and it just continued. Finally I convinced her that if she wanted it to stop, it would have to come from her. I got her enrolled in self defense classes, more for the confidence building than anything else. She hated it because she is the type to never hurt a fly. I agreed she could stop the classes once she demonstrated she could use the training to her advantage. I told her she had my blessing to take matters into her own hands, and would have my full support to fight the school if they took any disciplinary action against her.
Finally one day, after water bottles were thrown at her, she had had enough and cold-cocked the ringleader getting off the bus (a "boy"... what has this world come through when boys use violence against girls just for the "fun" of it?
). He was humiliated in front of his friends. Teachers quickly put a stop to it, and the boy got suspended for his actions on the bus, and nothing was done against my daughter. I allowed her to stop taking the self defense classes because it had served it purpose. The bullying stopped!
Fast forward... Now she serves as the protector on the bus and in school when she sees bullying taking place. I have had some sessions with the school over her actions to help others, but nothing has ever been done to her and nothing has ever gone on her record. I shame the school for their inability to actually do anything constructive against bullying, and tell them nothing better happen against my daughter for actually doing something to curb bullying, or there will be hell to pay.
Secretly I think they appreciate what she does, but can't publicly admit it, and have to "appear" to do something by talking with her and a parent when an incident occurs. Whenever we have to attend a school function as a parent and the administrators "talk about all they do to stop bullying," I can see the fear in their eyes when they glance over at me... hoping I will just keep my mouth shut. (But they do see my condescending smile). I figure saying nothing gives me a little upper hand when I have to deal with them in the future, and I use it.
