> def: willfully causing pain or suffering to others, feeling no concern about it.
willfully: check; suffering: check (the shaming); no concern: check.
Actor: state/school as a whole. So I think it applies.
I think this is sum of the parts different than the whole.
I was just pointing out that cruel has a very negative connotation ie - inhuman, barbaric, sadistic, evil, abominable etc. Applying it in the previous use case seemed excessive and implied a more radical tone than I believe the author (as he mentioned) wanted.
I have the same feelings about the UK public education. Competition is basically non-existence. I wonder why people can't settle in a middle ground.