We live in a might makes right culture. Besides the probable thing that the teacher just didn’t want to have to deal is the deeply engrained-in-our culture idea that victims deserve what they get. In a dominance hierarchy, those at the top have gotten there by stepping on others. Those with the most power and privilege are the most ruthless, but yet we still look up to them and make them CEOs and the leaders of our government. Remember Trump saying that John McCain wasn’t a real war hero because he got captured. “I like people who don’t get captured,” Trump said. That mentality is pervasive, even if it’s mostly subconscious. It plays a major part in our issues with harassment and violence.

I recently wrote something on this. It’s terrible that this happened, but also great that some kids are willing to intervene and help others.