I have had the same experience with my son, who is 8, but the punishment was not that severe. He was playing with another boy on the playground when the other boy took what my son said out of context and hit my son. Being a wrestler, my son took the other boy down in the headlock. LOL! Needless to say, the other boy did not like the headlock. My son and the other boy got punished by the school, because of the "Hands off policy". They both had to miss recesses. My son did not get punished at home though. My rule is if someone hits you first, hit back and we will be behind you 100%; but if you hit first, then there will be punishment at home.