The thing about VN is, she is very very quiet and unassuming. Not the show-off, look at me, look at me, type. She is also academically gifted which makes her look like what some folks call - geek? Well, she was bullied. Now, she isn't.
So, I don't agree with you at all, Nat, because as a parent, I find many parents in school who agree with me that karate is to
learn how to discipline yourself,
improve level of self esteem/fitness
DEFEND yourself (she's not attacking anyone, is she?)
prevent yourself from being bullied by not being a soft target.
If you are a parent of a very quiet, unassuming and bullied child, then, I will take your advice seriously here in this context.


EDIT
1. Genuine apologies if I hurt anyone by my frank honesty.
2. A parent has to do what a parent HAS to do to avoid her kid going through the same trauma (of being bullied without redress) as the parent did in childhood. The school can't (not won't) help at times.