Bullying is an issue which is being taken more and more seriously these days. We have a task force looking into bullying in the workplace, a centre researching and disseminating information on bullying and several support groups both for people who have been, or are being, bullied - and for parents of children who are being or have been bullied.

There are also several excellent books on the issue. However, two recent publications, Bullying in our Schools and Parents and the Bullying Problem are a welcome addition to the available material. They're both by David Fitzgerald, a teacher and regular contributor to Education & Living.

As acknowledged by Fitzgerald in the introduction to his guide for families, bullying can have serious long-term implications. However these days it is an issue society is becoming more conscious of.

Where children are being bullied our job as adults is to protect the victim, analyse the behaviour of the bully and try and ensure the incident is not repeated, he says. He gives an extensive list of examples which constitute bullying, when they happen on an ongoing basis. Interestingly, he includes things which even these days may not be taken all that seriously, such as nasty notes being written about a child. Essentially, any consistent behaviour which causes physical, mental, emotional and/or psychological pain to a child should be regarded as intolerable.

Fitzgerald addresses the many myths surrounding bullying and describes the reality as a complex issue. Why one child is bullied and why another bullies are questions which are not easy to answer.

Discussing the matter is recommended, but as Fitzgerald says, not always simple. In many cases, neither the bully nor the parents of the bully readily accept responsibility. In fact, sometimes "children are being told that aggression, inflicting fear and pain and intimidating others is an acceptable way of relating to others", says Fitzgerald.

However, it is very clear that the long-term impact of being bullied on a child's self-worth can be very debilitating. Fortunately, he offers plenty of advice on what parents might do. First, talk to the school, and if that doesn't help, "do not hesitate to consult with professionals, who are specially trained to deal with bullies and victims".

Complementing his guide for parents is Fitzgerald's useful guide for schools. Again de-bunking detrimental myths, he stresses: "There will always be some bullying in schools, even the best run ones." Again, he describes what constitutes bullying and examines some of the reasons why it occurs. "Inaction by adults in the face of bullying is inexcusable", he concludes. Fitzgerald then gives extensive information on how to create a school policy on bullying.

These are two very useful guides for parents, teachers, school principals and anyone working with children. They are both very practical and very clearly written.

Most importantly, there is no sense of judgment on either people who bully or those who have been bullied.

Bullying in our Schools (£9.99) and Parents and the Bullying Problem (£6.99) are both published by Blackhall.