I was bullied, messing with my books etc. until one day I was late to homeroom and sent to detention.
The next day with the detention still fresh in my mind they tried the same thing and I leveled them lol. One minute I'm standing next to room 303 or something at my locker and they try to fuck with my books again and the next minute I'm standing over him at room 312 or something. He must've slid like 10-20ft after I tackled him.
So anyway that was freshman year. Kids walked on the other side of my locker until senior year and was never messed with again. I also got detention for it, as did the guy messing with my stuff. A slap on the wrist and a "knock it the hell off" really.
I've seen my fair share of bullying. I think it forces people to adapt. If you can't protect yourself then who will? You will have to learn to deal with criticism or people who just don't like you and try to mess with your stuff (or career or your money or business etc.) one day or another. Some people don't adapt.
There was a kid who was frequently bullied in highschool freshman through senior, they'd call him common insults, rather effective, and he responded "you guys are old dinosaurs" or something and it made no sense. Basically the guy would never defend himself, curse etc. I guess some parents try to shelter their kids from the world and people living in the real world can't help but try to burst their bubble.
That said bullying is pretty cruel and the school should step in if it becomes routine but handholding isn't that necessary.