GREG Pope, who worked in education before he became Hyndburn's MP, should have been more courteous and cautious before making crass comments that a 'super head' was required at Moorhead High School in Accrington (LET, January 16).

My immediate thought was that we could do with super Labour MPs instead of the clones at present in parliament.

Admittedly, he did apologise (LET, January 18), but with little grace. He then made what has now become obligatory -- an appeal for calm. This, of course, will have an immediate effect on those ex-pupils who were mainly responsible for the affray in the playground at Moorhead.

I can only commend Mrs Joan Hayselden the acting head. She is a super head. She had to handle the local and national press and she was unflinching under the spotlight of TV cameras, where she showed courage and candour about the school's problems. Well done, I say

Mrs Hayselden has an impeccable CV, having taught at schools in Moss Side, Wythenshawe and Whalley Range, Manchester -- a commando course for future head teachers. She has engaged in discussions with community leaders of the ethnic groups and parents and done everything possible to improve things on a difficult school site.

But, to add insult to injury, Estelle Morris, the Secretary for Education, stated that her department was preparing guidelines on how to deal with disobedient pupils. This, of course, will work wonders -- if you believe in fairies at the bottom of the garden.

Education is slowly being submerged under a sea of directives and guidelines.

It is time for robust action and hard choices, not palliatives -- by returning authority to the teacher and the use of corporal punishment for the most disobedient pupils, when all other means have been exhausted.

Why cannot MPs see what is evident to everyone else -- that indiscipline in the classroom is destroying education and is the reason for teachers leaving the profession in droves.

Education has become a political circus with too many clowns and no ring master.

JOHN EDDLESTON, Brownhill Road, Blackburn.