What kinds of harassment do Beans and the gang inflict on Palmer after he has walked away from the gang? Why?

The gang begin by trying to come into Palmer's room at night. Then they begin treestumping him, making it hard for him to walk. The boys mock and taunt him, flick at his ears, and Beans spits on Palmer's shoes. Beans does this to try and get a rise out of Palmer, just as he did with Dorothy, but Palmer refuses to give in.