Principles like that really do irritate me beyond belief.

For over 20 years they have been telling kids to "ignore it". One would have thought by now that they would have learnt that it doesn't work. It actually inflames the situation because the bully has not got the response they want, so they escalate their approach. "Ignoring it" is the single quickest way to turn verbal harassment to violence.

Even worse, doing nothing about the bully when he knows he is being reported is simply empowering the bully by condoning his actions!

I'd take it to the next level. There is huge uproar about bullying in schools right now because of the amount of former students who are suing and current victims who are responding with excessive force. The Department should help.