I am firmly in the belief that equal force to defend oneself from attack at school is aceptable behavior. In all the schools in my area it is not acceptable behavior to fight even in your own defense. Both fighters will be expelled immmediately.

I think this is horse shit.

I would further state that it is the responsibility of any student to fight back when attacked. Bullys should not be tolerated by anyone. And since the schools won't do anything about bullies It falls to the students to defend themselves. Schools will expell both combatants anyway. The right or wrong of the defender is not at issue. It is as if the schools would prefer to see a student injured by a bully rather than having to deal with two or more combatants and try and sort out the right and wrong side.

I asked my brothe, a school administrator about this policy. his reply was, "WE simply can't have fighting in the halls."

When I asked him "How about serious injury or homicide in the halls?"
He said "We would hope it won't come to that."

Teach your kids to be fair and respectful and to defend themselves. Run if you have to, fight if you must.

Don