On the day a third of UK schools are hit teacher strike action, certain newspapers observe ever rising peer pressure and bullying, asking readers how to "rescue childhood."
I agree that academic study is not the be-and-end all of schooling. It's more about learning how to get on with other people. And if people are different, then graciously accepting them for what they are. Get it right at school and chances are you'll keep getting it right as an adult too.

I suffered terrible bullying at school. I loved learning (English, foreign languages and history were my sanctuary) and always knew I wanted to become a teacher but I HATED being in school. I received little support or sympathy from teachers. Their job description was just to teach, of course. As pupils we were left to fight it out ourselves. And that was at a middle-class, fee-paying school in one of the most desirable cities in Britain!
So I think I can understand some of the problems of youngsters today. Mounting peer pressure is not going to be solved by tax-payer-funded commissions and psychoanalysts. Let's just learn to accept - and appreciate - individual differences, whether it's speaking differently or wearing "unfashionable" clothing . Then schooldays really could be the happiest days in life.