Bullying in schools - Survey is important

The survey of the views of children and parents about bullying and other aspects of school life being conducted by the Department of Education next month should be warmly welcomed.

The tragic case of Phoebe Prince — the teenager from Fanore, Co Clare, who took her own life earlier this year as a result of bullying at South Hadley High School in Massachusetts — was a dreadful warning of danger or not dealing with bullying in school.

School managers and teacher representatives have complained in the past that badly behaved and bullying pupils are effectively given priority over the children being victimised.