The pilot episode of Burn Notice has a brief lesson on dealing with bullies. Michael teaches the son of one of his 'clients' how to defend himself and take down a bully at school.

How is bullying handled in a typical school? Is the disciplining of a bully left to the teacher, or is this the primary responsibility of the principal? It seems that bullying is serious enough that the principal would need to get involved, along with the parents. If a teacher were to see two children fighting on the playground or in the classroom, the teacher should step in and find out what the cause is. And if one of the children has been bullying the other, then that should be dealt with in the appropriate manner. But what if the bullying takes place off school grounds, and the children being victimized tells the teacher? Some measures may be taken by the school against the bully, but that may not put a stop to the bullying, if it happens off campus. What does the teacher tell the student then? Or does the teacher only advise the parent? What are the legal ramifications of a teacher telling the student to defend himself in such a situation?

In the past, would schools and male teachers have handled incidents of bullying differently? Nowadays I wouldn't be surprised if administration is quick to get the police involved.

Some parents teach their children to be reactive (avoid getting hurt) rather than proactive (confronting the bully)--and this does seem to me to be the wrong way to deal with it (especially for boys). Many East Asians tend to be averse to the use of violence, failing to make a distinction between a just response and unjust aggression. (And this may be the case for many mothers?) "Stay out of trouble" can also be the dominant operative social principle for many.

Is anarcho-tyranny a necessary feature of the Nanny State? Did the same causes that led to the rise of a bureaucratic state also foster an unhealthy 'maternalism' on the part of those in authority, in which justice is ignored in favor of a false peace? Have more recent social developments reinforced this? While teaching, I have not heard of many examples of the victim being reprimanded or punished for defending himself, but it would not surprise me if it happens.

When fathers fail to teach their son how to "man up"...