Why do people defend bullying?

[Rooney]

I have found among my own fellow teachers that many adults view bullying as, "Something every one has to go through." An English teacher once told me that it was okay to have bullying in a school because it was, "Natural" and "life is hard." There was a history teacher at my school who actually aided in the torment of a student, thus becoming a bully himself. When the principal and I confronted him on this he explained, "Bullying is good for boys because it makes them stronger." Needless to say he was transferred from the school district but he is still teaching, which is a scary thought. I know most teachers are not like this and report bullying, but it certainly plays into the question well.

A lot of the kids I have seen picked on are more "effeminate" or "nerdy" males and shy girls and these are people who simply are the "forgotten" students at schools. I teach students with behavior issues so you might think that they are all big, tough and angry dudes with leather jackets and bad attitudes. I have found the opposite. They are mostly misunderstood kids who don't "play school" well and are picked on by everyone. They are bullied non-stop and I see that everyday. The reason few people care is because they are special education students and can easily be forgotten by general education.

So why do people defend bullying, Twilight, the reason is because the students effected are not visible. The teachers who defend them are not powerful and the administrators are overwhelmed by other work. Thus, people can defend bullying and no one will care because no one "important" is being harmed. This is sad and sick, but it is what happens. That is why it is the duty of people with empathy to report bullying and to fight against all those who defend it.