CONGRATULATIONS to the head of Darwen Vale High School for having the courage to deal with unruly pupils by isolating them (LET, June 11).

Suspending children is not the answer as these children welcome the chance to stay away from school.

I know from personal experience the havoc that is caused by just one unruly pupil; the amount of time that is wasted when other children are wanting to learn.

I don't know how any parent can condemn the method of punishment. After all, if the children behave as is expected of them, they won't be punished in this way.

I know that if it was one of my children, I would be mortified, not angry. But perhaps every picture tells a story.

SCHOOL WORKER (Name and address received).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.