I went from a reasonably polite private school on the US East Coast to an English school for one semester. I was appalled at the bullying. Horrified. It's amateur torture that goes on there. Much as I like and admire many things about the Brits, I think it's a real flaw that such a level of bullying is not just tolerated, it's condoned. I don't know what would have happened to me if I hadn't been tall and strong for my age, because I'm not much good at the whole top-dog-underdog thing. But it was bad enough as it was. One of the most picked-on kids stuck to me like glue because she was safe there, and--remember, I was twelve--I was mortified at being associated with a loser.