Hi Zilw.

I have an eighth grader who'll FORTUNATELY be in high school next year, and they say that high schoolers don't care about that nonsense. My daughter's navigated it all by the skin of her teeth, and we talk a LOT about the nastiness of human nature and small-thinking, and she knows it's something she can't control. But once in a while it all wells up and she'll just come home and cry and cry. I do my very best (but it's exhausting) to keep her involved in extracurricular activites with kids her age - it breaks up all that hierarchical stuff and when it's something she loves and is good at, it boosts/maintains her self-esteem. I think getting your son involved in martial arts was a wonderful idea. In that setting he's not limited by all the junk-structure that was set up before he got there. And if the school's a good one, the parents are smart, and they're usually smart enough to pour a lot of skilled effort in puffing themselves up through their own kids, but not smart enough to realize how hurtful their behavior is. Good luck. Let us know how it's coming. And thank you for sharing - I feel less alone fighting that battle!