Who's Bad Now?

I wonder if all teachers/adults get the impression from time to time that teenagers merely tolerate us and really don't even listen to, let alone take to heart, what we say? I had evidence to the contrary the other day, and it was a real highlight to my year and my career.
In our school, one of the favorite bully tricks is to take freshmen and others we consider to be less than worthy and set them on top of the water fountain (bubbler, in Wisconsinese). Naturally, this makes the two or three people perpetrating the act feel like tough guys in spite of their obvious feelings of inferiority.
Anyway, we have one kid who seems to be the object of this treatment more often than others, and he's NOT a freshman. As kids were talking about this one day in health class, I managed to climb aboard my soapbox and rant for more than a few minutes about the lack of leadership among our student population. I'm certain human dignity and worth were both part of the monologue. This harrassment (bubbler-setting, not me talking!) happens always with an audience (because it's no "fun" if we can't let others in on it vicariously), and I decried our lack of students who might attempt to stop such mistreatment. Knowing me as I do, I went on for a protracted period of time, at least until I knew nobody was listening anymore.
HOWEVER, this week, two of the health students actually stopped a group of miscreants from putting the same kid on the water fountain! The tough guy group actually contained a couple of our ex-cons who were off the moniotring bracelets temporarily, (and painfully lacking in anything which might pass for intelligence) and Bobby was helpless in their grasp. Paige and Jaimie stood in front of these meanies and told them that they were doing something wrong and that they should stop it right now! Incredibly, the baddies dropped Bobby and walked away (though one was later seen chasing him down the hall). All our juniors and seniors were standing around enjoying the show, and two petite girls put an end to it. I was so impressed when I heard about it that I made certain that the administration got wind of it. Of course, I was also embarrassed for all our "leaders" who did nothing to stop it.
Where were all the adults, you ask? I was wondering the same thing.
...and the child shall lead us.