HARDLY a day goes by without some report of violence to some teacher or pupil in school, even to the point of losing what must have been a very brave head teacher.

What an epitaph: "This teacher was killed in the line of duty."

When children are expelled from school, they should be sent to a special school, possibly one where Michael Heseltine's mother is head, or maybe Sir Rhodes Boyson has the answer for when they get older.

I don't know why there are people trying to rescind the gun laws in England; before long that is the only way we are going to be able to get teachers to go into classrooms - with a gun in their hands.

Yes, I know it is stupid, but so is the law that allows children free rein. Before a child knows the difference between right and wrong, he/she has to be taught.

This starts in the home. Taking notice of EPOCH (End Physical Punishment of Children) would be the worst thing we could possibly do.

My own opinion is to bring back corporal punishment. Unfortunately, this will not happen.

Although there are more than 74 per cent of the British people who are in favour, there are still the bleeding hearts who are ruling the country.

And look where it has got us - children aged under16, robbing, raping, beating, creating arson and trashing anything they can gain entrance to.

And what can the authorities do? Nothing.

I will willingly vote for the first one to use some common sense and bring back authority to the system.

Personally, I think that every parent should be made totally responsible for their children up to the age of 16 and if they cannot control them, then make them wards of court.

G CLARKE, Fernhill Avenue, Stacksteads, Bacup.

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