I know your a teacher so this could be your students. But if you were that little girl who beat the kid up then you are awesome.
Personally I have no issue letting them pay a guy to beat the other kid up, its good to stand up for yourself, but some people just cant. Well they can, but they will just get the crap beat out of them.
So lesson not learned.
True, bullying is a mix of things, bad parenting on both ends. My parents always said "tell a teacher" that didnt solve anything, and I doubt they are alone, thats one problem, because thats basically saying "ignore it hope the school gives a damn". Second you cant teach people to get along. No matter what someone will hate you. No reason for it,maybe not one they know about, but they will.
Thing is, some kids can and do learn, to say stop it. The kid that should have been expelled blew his last chance, a chance he was given because he was on medication (sterioids) for a breathing problem. The school tried their best to accomodate him, and the other kids, resulting in his isolation as a punishment. Which didn't help him socialize at all.
I've roleplayed with kids, where they are the bully, and I am them, and we work on looking people directly in the eye, calming ourseves down, and expressing our disinclination to accomodate his actions. I teach them to hold their head up, speak loudly and firmly. Bullies pick victims by attitude. They know, like wolves circling caribou, which is easy prey. Smaller, might get picked on, but with an intolerant attitude, won't stay picked on.
As for me, I grew up with three brothers, was taught to box by my dad, and only had to resort to violence thrice in my entire school experience. I was quiet, dainty, preferred solitude, but had many friends. Those three who chose to start [censored] with me learned that I finish [censored]. They got their asses beat. All boys.
Bullies learn best when the lesson is what they do.
As for my kids, they do not have permission to start it. But they damn sure better finish it.
Son has always been slim and short, got picked on a couple of time in kindergarten. He knew how to defend himself, the kid bullied him. He did the correct thing, told the teacher, kid was reprimanded, still picked on him.
Then the son had enough, knocked the bully down next time he picked on him, bloodied his nose, and that was that. KIds dad came in, demanded to see who'd hurt his son, and was pretty ticked off AT HIS OWN SON when he saw the size of mine. That kid got in so much trouble for picking on a kid three times smaller than him.
Eventually, the son and he became friends, they both took speech class.
Son got in a couple of fights in fourth, and eight grade, bullies again. Beat the bully up, both times, kid left him alone.
Prinicpal came up, informed me the son had detention for fighting. I asked if he'd started it, no he didn't.
I asked if he finished it, yes he had.
I backed up detention, they were after all, fighting. But sometimes, you hve to put your ass out on the line to stand up for what is right.
If people aren't willing to do that, don't whine to me.