The best way to a neglectful teacher is through the principal. Sometime when you are picking your kid up early or dropping him off, steer the principal off to the side and ask him something like "Should I be concerned if my kid comes home and says a boy is punching him in the head every day?" Make like you know that kids rough house around, laugh it off, but tell him that it is happening so frequently you are kind of worried that the teacher doesn't seem to respond.

The main thing is just to be able to show that the school was notified and did nothing when they try to punish your kid for decking the bully. Frankly, any teacher that knows about that kind of behavior and brushes it off with a warning isn't worth her salt. I'd make myself known to her at every given opportunity. If she starts feeling pressure, you can bet the bully will.

In terms of self defense, elbows, elbows, elbows. A fist to the face hurts, sure, but it is easy to miss. You also stay back far enough for the bully to hit you.

Nothing shocks a bully more than lurching into his face and coming across the bridge of his nose with your forearm/elbow. It even looks kind of accidental if you do it right *cough*.

While I do agree that you need to stand up to bullies I disagree with the immediate action of fighting before trying to resolve the problem.

You imply that it is the schools sole responsibility to control the bully, however, it is also up to the parents of that child too.  In my opinion I believe it would be best to bring this to the attention of the parents of that child.  It's possible that this can be resolved first by means of communication by all parties involved.  You should intervene by calling the parents or asking them to have a meeting with you and the school's principal.  If I was the parent of a bully child I would hope that another parent contacted me first before telling their kid to beat the crap out of my child.  Of course not all parents may react in a calm  matter about this but it's definitely worth the call.

If this doesn't work then by all means your son should defend himself.  But I think you would be missing out on a great non violent opportunity to resolve this issue by speaking to that kids parents first.

...Passing thought...I wonder if the school has contacted that child's parents yet?  I hope so.  If not I would be giving the school a piece of my mind!

I made the teacher sign a statement on the contents of the discussion.  My Daughter did not have any more problems with that hooligan (that was first grade).

Course they transferred him to an alternate school about a month later when he threw a desk, so I dont know if the teacher would have made a real difference or not.

To those optimistic people who think telling the kid's parents is going to work, I have to respectfully disagree.  I used to think the same way but have had far too much experience witnessing action to the contrary.  Too many parents of bullies are bullies themselves and see agression as strength.

Also, even if the parents and teachers talk to a 2nd grader, do you really think that is going to make a difference?  Have you had much experience with a lot of 2nd grade boys recently?  I have.  A good number of them don't have a lot going on upstairs and will act out whatever impulse strikes them at the time.  If the bully gets socked in the nose for beating on a "nice" kid, he isn't likely to have that impulse again.

I, as a fat kid, got bullied a lot.  I was a nice, sweet little girl and was told that if you are nice to people, they would be nice back.  I got the whole "turn the other cheek" and "be a bigger person" sermon.  I found out the hard way that those ways don't work.  Anyone who believes that there is always a "nonviolent" solution is ignoring human nature.  I tried everything including telling teachers and having my parents talk to their parents.  Guess what, that only seemed to fuel them.  It is like my "squealing" only fueled them more.

I have never punched anyone in the face but I certainly did some shoving, kicking and my favorite move, grabbing them by the back of their shirt (sweatshirt hood worked best) and twirling them until they go tumbling into an embarrassed heap.  Once a little fat girl makes you look like a fool, you don't tend to go back for more.

It's very true.  Just last night I was watching the news (which always has "Detroit crime" on it).  A parent told his kid to "fight back", which the kid did.  The kids house was promptly sprayed with gun fire from the bully's parent and older sibling.  Obviously, things are handled a bit different in inner cities, but it just shows that the bullys are most likely learning it from their parents.