Bullying

I have seen many posts on bullying and how to handle it lately, and just wanted to share my story in the hope it might help.
I wear glasses and have a prominent birthmark on my arm, and because of these differences I was bullied horrifically all through primary school, right from the start. I have many physical and emotional scars from it. I was thrown down a flight of stairs, my long hair was cut off, all manner of disgusting things were put in my backpack and my lunch/school supplies stolen, I was locked in a toilet stall in winter while water was thrown over the top. I was pushed, hit, pinched, bitten, poked and came home covered in bruises more often than not, - you name it, I suffered it.
I lost track of how many times parents were called in and action plans were put in place, the other kids were suspended several times and it just got worse... because I wouldn't stand up for myself. I'd just cry and tell the teacher and another meeting would be arranged.
Eventually, after putting up with all this for over six years, I snapped. About halfway through the last year of primary school I was stabbed in the back with a three-inch spike from a date palm. I lost my shit, turned around and punched the kid square in the face so hard I broke his nose. I was suspended for three days.
I was never touched by bullies again.
In my experience, mediation does not work. Meetings with parents do not work. Suspension does not work. The only thing that will stop a bully in their tracks is if their victim stands up to them. Though it is extreme to suggest, if your child is suffering anything like the abuse I did, if they give the bully a good punch in the nose next time the bully WILL leave your child alone.
However, it's preferable of course to stop the bullying before it starts. Most schools nowdays will teach kids to tell a teacher if someone bullies them, but I think that is taking away our kids' ability to fight their own battles. Kids need to be taught to stand up for themselves.
I have taught my four-year-old daughter that if someone picks on her she is to defend herself. I have witnessed her tell off an older kid that was teasing her, then get up and walk away from that group to play with another girl. The kid followed her and snatched the toy she had, and instead of crying to the teacher she snatched it back and told him off again. He hasn't bothered her since. There's no way my baby will go through what I did.
My point is, if someone was nasty to you, would you cry to someone else to fix the problem or would you stand up for yourself? You'd stand up for yourself, of course. So why are teaching our kids to do the opposite? And how is that going to help them when they NEED to stand up for themselves out in the big wide world?
This is such a difficult thing to deal with, hopefully we as parents can give our babies the right tools to do so successfully. Good luck, IMs ?