Read Neal Stephenson's "Interface" - a very good commentary on society. A good summary would be that if parents just don't give a shit about raising their kids with values, then they get kids without values. And that's the problem. A disruptive bully isn't "expressing himself", he's a spoiled brat taking advantage, and needs an adult to step in and discipline him. Basically, if you learn you can get away with stuff, what's to stop you doing it again?

Let's face it, some kids are naturally good, and some plain aren't, and most are in between somewhere. Best example was a kid across the road from us - a nice kid, but prone to being disruptive simply cos he could get away with it. His mum would do the "if you do that again, ...." bit, but would never actually do anything. My mum 'babysat' him fairly often, and the first time over he played up. She told him to stop or she'd give him a smack, he carried on, so she slapped his leg. The effect was a total shock for him, the first time anyone actually did what they said, and basically he didn't give her any more trouble. Make of that what you will.

Grab.