Well, all I know is that I've been in some very tough schools from the Bronx to South Central and I haven't seen it. And if I ever had, I would've reported the teacher who let it go down like that.

ETA: I just wanted to say that I hope this doesn't come off like me discounting other people's lived experience, but just in my experience if the teacher sees with his/her own eyes the shoving going on, they step in. Call security over to separate the kids (cause you can be sued if you put your hands on somebody's kid) and then make sure that there are consequences. And lots of times it's not even really for the benefit of the kids involved, but more because that type of violence has a tendency to escalate if it's left unchecked. And maybe that's not the right reason to step in, but it certainly is a compelling one. And I'll also say that there's usually just a whole bunch of chaos and shenanigans going on in the hallway during a passing period in a large HS and so even if the teacher is in the hallway (which I know I seldom was - that's what hall monitors are for) they may not see the actual shove and just catch the tail end when the kid hits the lockers and goes down and in that case, I don't know what the teacher would do. Depends on a lot of different things. But if a teacher actually witnesses the act of violence and catches the kid red handed, which I have seen pop off in many schools, then that kid gets pulled up short. That's all I wanted to say from my experience in schools. I'm sure it has happened differently in other places, other schools, other contexts and I haven't been in every school ever, but it pushed a probably way too personal button for me. So I won't say more about it.

My experience was at a fairly rich suburban school.

kat, it's cool by me that you said something. But I think it is, as you said, important to remember that not every experience is universal. I had to take Nate out of public school-- a fairly well-off school-- because of the bullying. Because he was the one being bullied and it was amazing how many adults who could have done something conveniently never saw anything happen. And if Nate complained, he was a troublemaker, and if he struck back, then he got the harsher punishment because the current trend, at least in this school system, is to turn the other cheek, don't engage, then get an adult involved, which amounted to asking the kid who did the initial bullying if they'd done anything and of course they hadn't. And it wouldn't be pursued because administration would be too scared of the helicopter parents who were all too quick to come swooping in and insist that they're little darlings couldn't possibly be engaging in the behavior of which they were being accused and maybe my kid was the one making it all up and he was actually the one causing the trouble.

So then, it was my kid who had the target painted on his back.

I think the idea with how GLEE is presenting the situation, as imperfect as it might seem, is that there are extremes-- there's the fluffy, all-inclusive, tolerant school and the school where the jocks and princesses rule the hallways. And when you consider that even teachers (specifically Sue) have been seen both verbally and physically bullying the children with no consequences, it's not such a surprise that the students can get away with it.

When it comes to the high school experience, Ryan Murphy is about painting with a very wide brush-- I can watch the show because I go into it knowing this.

My approach to watching Glee is just enjoy the parts I enjoy and blatantly ignore the parts that make me want to punch things. I enjoy the parts I like enough to just... pretend the other stuff isn't going on. Everything going on is completely insane, including both the stuff and enjoy and the stuff I don't... so... I just let it all happen.

My heart constantly breaks for Kurt. I know exactly what it's like to be terrorized at school both emotionally and physically and have absolutely no one care, from teachers to admin to your parents. It's... uh... no fun. But I basically need him and Blaine to be in love RIGHT NOW. I don't even like the song Teenage Dream and I was so charmed by the number.

Also, it is Unpopular Opinion time here, but I didn't hate Will's pity kiss. My first kiss was 100% pity kiss (in front of basically everyone I knew, too, which added to the fun) but I've always been sort of thankful for it because it loosened me WAY the hell up with regards to that sort of thing. So I thought what Will did was sort of nice? BUT I AM REALLY STRANGE AND I FULLY ACCEPT THIS.

We are going through this right now and so far the teacher is taking this seriously. The incident report moves to the school administration today so we will see what happens there.

I was not happy about the pity kiss. But it made me think that I'd love to see and actual relationship between a pretty boy character and an unconventional love interest. I doubt Glee would go there, but still.

Also, it is Unpopular Opinion time here, but I didn't hate Will's pity kiss.

I actually kinda agree with this. Will played a role in hurting Bieste, a friendly acquaintance, very deeply. And even though the kids had the thoughts, and even though Bieste herself repeatedly asked Will what was going on before he told her, he bears some responsibility for her pain at that point. And they have a relationship of at least mutual respect with possibly budding friendship.

So I think Will was acting from multiple motives, some of which are less admirable than others.

My heart constantly breaks for Kurt. I know exactly what it's like to be terrorized at school both emotionally and physically and have absolutely no one care, from teachers to admin to your parents.

I agree with most of this, but I have to defend Burt. If Burt knew what was going on, he'd teach Sarah Palin a thing or two about being a mama grizzly. But Kurt has tried to shield him from knowing about verbal abuse since the beginning. And now, with Burt recovering from his heart attack, Kurt is even less likely to upset him with word that words have escalated to body slams.

As far as the private school went, I dismissed it as the unreality of musicals. I was more thrown out of the moment when Kurt and Blaine could visit each other's schools so casually. And put me in the category of those who want Kurt and Blaine to have some kind of relationship. Kurt needs someone in his life (as friend, mentor, or boyfriend -- any one will do) who Gets It.

Though I fear the Carovsky situation will end very, very badly for at least one of Carovsky, Kurt, or Blaine.

Oh, I wasn't meaning to refer to Burt there. I was referring to my parents, actually. I was just meaning to say that, yeah, sometimes everyone around really does fail to notice what is happening in your life.

My confusion, zuisa.

Oh, and I did like most of the music. Though, as others have said above, "Livin' on a Prayer" is not a good song for Rachel. And how do you get from "Stop! in the Name of Love" to "Free Your Mind"?

That was quite a musical leap they had to take there. But I enjoyed all the numbers immensely.

And am still LOLing at the image of Sue setting off her confetti cannons.

I do kinda want a confetti cannon now.