It does bother me that we routinely expect children to deal with behavior, verbal and physical, that if perpetrated by an adult on another adult, would result in everything from at best disciplinary action to at worst to being criminally prosecuted. Note: I am definitely not calling for intervention by the police or the juvenile justice system, both of which are highly likely to make the situation worse. But I've seen, and personally experienced, adults putting the onus on the kids to "work out" one child hitting another, verbally abusing another, or outright harassing the other. And unlike adults, kids don't have the only real weapon we have against regular abusive behavior: leaving, whether that means leaving the room or even leaving the home/workplace. All of which is to echo: what is the school doing about Theresa's behavior?