COMMENT | When I was in school, bullies singled out the unlucky few - the ones who didn’t fight back.

Often, they were called mean names, but sometimes, it escalated to full-on physical violence that led to more than just a wound or two.

The bullies often got away, as they do. But sometimes a teacher stepped in, caned them publicly at assembly to set an example, leaving not just a bruise on their bum, but also scars in their minds.

What’s the difference? It’s smaller than you might think. At the time, we thought justice had been served.

But looking back, the power dynamics weren’t so different. In both instances, someone with more power (whether physical strength, age, or authority) harmed someone with less.