YOUR correspondent Mr Burns obviously didn't learn much history during his school days or he would have known that the national education system he laments was set up by the 1870 Education Act, long after Dickens, Austen et al finished whatever schooling, be it private or church, they had.

The main problem in most schools these days is with discipline. It is very difficult for teachers to keep unruly pupils in order when the pupils themselves know that the worst that can happen is that they will be kept in for a short time.

I agree that the political interference since 1965 has caused nothing but trouble, and it is about time the politicians stopped trying to justify their own existence by meddling in other people's jobs.

The teachers I have known have been dedicated to helping the pupils achieve their best and want only to be allowed to get on with it.

J Dalton

Highfield Close

Oswaldtwistle.

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