In other words, it promotes the kind of insecurity I mentioned.

You and I have different perspectives on bullying. I went through it too, but I've also been responsible for trying to stop it, and it's not an easy issue. We're probably both right in part.

I taught in a Catholic school that allowed non-Catholics to attend - it was the only French school in the city, so it had every Francophone in the city regardless of creed. The Muslim kids were a very clear religious minority, but they didn't get bullied over it. I think it went back to the culture of Christian love that was promoted ceaselessly. There were bullies, but they didn't pick on religion and they operated with a lot more secrecy than they have in any public school I've ever been in. It doesn't have to be like it was for you.