Mixed Messages about Bullying

This past week in Arizona, a local High School Principal got into trouble because he gave two students the option to hold hands in the middle of the campus or take a suspension after they got into a fight. The students chose to hold hands, and after some humiliation were done with their punishment.

The school district then came in and disciplined the principal for how he handled the situation.  The big question I would like to ask is "WHY?!"  What was the school district's motivation for punishing this principal?  If it was strictly because he blatantly violated policy then I can at least stomach it.  But my concern is that there is more to it.  My concern is that the School District acted out of fear.  

In my opinion one of the biggest reason's the education system in America has deteriorated is not because of the teaching, or the number of hours of classroom work, or less recess.  The reason we are struggling is because teachers are being asked more and more not to be teachers but to be parents.  And out of fear of law suit, school districts around the country have allowed it to happen.  It frequently seems that those on the front line of education are not supported by the higher ups because the higher ups are more concerned about being sued than they are about their teachers and administrators.  There is currently a huge nation wide push against bullying which should involve a two part message:

1.  Don't do it.

2.  Stand up to those who do.

For the past several years school districts have cowardly allowed themselves to be backed into corners and pushed around by the parents of the most disruptive kids and their attorneys.  One of the results is that our education system has become less and less effective is simply because we are terrified to kick out those that disrupt the class and hold the kids and parents accountable.  Then, when the attorneys come knocking, failing to stand their ground.  Instead, they cower and hang out to dry the people on the front lines trying to do their job.  Fifty years ago, if a principal would have made two kids hold hands for fighting, the next day both kids parents would have had them in his office with a letter apologizing for the fight and thanking him for giving them the option not to be suspended.  In this case, I don't even know if the parents really cared that much, but I'm afraid there is a decent chance that the district took a pre-emptive move to "CYA" by punishing the principal.  

In my heart of hearts, I hope I'm wrong, and if I am, I will apologize right this second to the district for jumping the gun.  But if I'm right then my question to our entire education system is: "When are we going to stop sending mixed messages and actually begin to demonstrate how to deal with bullies?"  At some point, we need to stand up to them and support the people on the front lines.  And in turn, we as a society need to provide support to the districts when and if they begin to take these stands.