SIR - I think that there has been some misunderstanding in your correspondence columns of what is meant by a bilingual approach to teaching.

Some years ago I taught economics at sixth-form level in a local school. Had it been the case that I was perfectly fluent in Urdu and had it been the case that one of my pupils from an ethnic minority background had failed to grasp my explanation in English of the concept of cross elasticity of demand, I would have had no hang-ups about re-explaining the concept in Urdu.

My intention would have been to get the youngster to grasp the concept and the use of Urdu would have been instrumental.

Hopefully, once the concept had been grasped by the student he would be able to deal with it and express himself in English with greater confidence.

Looked at from this point of view, some bilingualism at an early stage is designed to create faster learning and greater understanding of new concepts and at the same time assist the acquisition of English.

I do not see this issue as being one of great principle or values. Bilingualism is simply a pragmatic tool to increase learning.

Councillor John Cole (Lib-Dem, Baildon), Oakroyd Terrace, Baildon

SIR - I enjoyed the "unconscious humour" of Martin R Gardener (T&A, August 2) when he virtually confessed to being a criminal (OK, so he was only breaking the law).

Following which he refers to himself and other criminals like him as "law-abiding citizens". Come on, they are mutually exclusive.

Personally, I believe the police, traffic wardens, clampers, etc would stop harassing motorists if motorists stopped breaking the laws. It's not difficult.

We all know the speed limits. We all know what "yellow lines" mean. We all know what arrows painted on the road mean.

We all know not to "jump the kerb". We all know not to drink and drive. We all know not to drive and use mobile phones.

What is the problem? If it's wrong, don't do it. Alternatively, DO it and pay the price. Don't try to blame "somebody else".

I wonder what would happen to this country if every citizen became totally law-abiding?

J Lewis Nicholl, Plumpton Gardens, Wrose.

SIR - Mr Peter Wilson, of Thornhill Grove, Calverley, made my day with his letter in the T&A of July 31.

"As a card-carrying atheist" he states, genes, chromosomes and hormones account for everything in life, the world, the universe. That tickled me. If he's lucky they may last him what? A hundred years?

I am not an atheist, let alone a card-carrying religionist. I know my genes, chromosomes and hormones have a "sell by date."

My soul however, I know, will live forever.

He who laughs last Mr Wilson, laughs longest and loudest. Thanks for the chuckle, brother.

M P Thompson, Braithwaite Avenue, Keighley.

SIR - Re the letter (July 31) from G Long of Thackley. I am appalled to think that anyone who had family killed in the two world wars and conflicts since would want to have our Greengates Cenotaph moved, never mind to the place suggested, out of sight, out of mind.

Does he not know the memorial is on the old village green of Greengates?

Perhaps not owned by the people of Greengates but purchased and given to the village by Geo Garnett and Sons, mill owners, for a memorial to their many loved ones killed in the 1914-1918 war.

We people of Greengates say, leave well alone.

Mrs J E Lambert, Harrogate Road, Greengates.

SIR - More than 40 years ago the former Bingley Urban District Council discussed the possibility of a relief road to aid congestion in the area. I well remember saying at the time that I would not live to see the fulfilment of the proposal. I must now, however, admit to an error of judgement!

I am, I think, the sole survivor of those happier days on the council, and as vice-chairman of highways then, I naturally have a particular interest in the project now nearing completion.

The tremendous progress made by the contractors, Amec, headed locally by Charly Clark and assisted by his excellent workforce, deserve unstinted praise.

The scheme has only minimally disrupted the normal run of traffic, considering the immensity of the task.

In my opinion, Charly Clark deserves our grateful recognition by naming part of the new section the Charly Clark Way. An apt reward for a job well done!

Winston White, Staybrite Avenue, Bingley.

SIR - So Tony Martin has pocketed £100,000 for his story. I do so hope that all his admirers were not too distressed by the bloodstains on the cheque.

Peter Wilson, Thornhill Grove, Calverley.

SIR - It is the biggest misconception in Islam that Muslims are violent, terrorists and/or extremists, no doubt resulting from the constant media stereotyping.

When a gunman attacks a mosque in the name of Judaism, a Catholic IRA guerrilla sets off a bomb in an urban area, or Serbian Orthodox militiamen rape and kill innocent Muslim civilians, these acts are not used to stereotype an entire faith. Never are these acts attributed to the religion of the perpetrators.

Yet how many times have we heard the words "Islamic, Muslim fundamentalist, etc." linked with violence? Politics in so-called "Muslim countries" may or may not have any Islamic basis. Often dictators and politicians will use the name of Islam for their own purposes.

One should remember to go to the source of Islam and separate what the true religion of Islam says from what is portrayed in the media. Islam literally means "submission to God" and is derived from a root word meaning "peace".

Islam may seem exotic or even extreme in the modern world. Perhaps this is because religion doesn't dominate everyday life in the West, whereas Islam is considered a "way of life" for Muslims and they make no division between secular and sacred in their lives.

Malcolm Wilsher Muhammad, Leeds Road, Bradford 3

SIR - Your readers might like to know that outside our premises in Otley Road, Charlestown, there is a bed of about a dozen Bradford Roses, above which is a plaque commemorating the fact that the Bradford Rose was created to celebrate the Lord Mayorality of Councillor Olive Messer in 1984/5.

I also have a small number of Bradford Roses in my garden in Menston.

I have always been successful in obtaining the rose through ACW Garden Centre onCanal Road and indeed I understand that they normally stock and sell around 100 plants each year.

So, put your orders in and let's keep the Bradford Rose blooming!

Dale Smith, chairman and joint managing director, Shipley Paint Ltd.

l EDITOR'S NOTE: Mrs Marjorie Robinson asks us to thank all those readers who responded to her request for information about the Bradford Rose. She says it is reassuring to learn that the rose is still available.

SIR - I wonder if you could help me find old "playmates"? I am looking for Maureen and Jack Clayton who lived in Addi Street, Dudley Hill, Bradford. They moved, I believe, to Clayton at the end of the Forties and we lost touch.

I have a question only they can answer for me. Please ask them to get in touch. I was Jean Beaumont of Wakefield Road, Bradford.

Mrs Jean Hurn, Mayfield, 2a Back Lane, Guiseley, Leeds LS20 8DS.

SIR - Nineteen years ago my wife and I emigrated to Ireland. Due to a family illness we recently returned to Bradford for a short visit.

The city was much changed, a lot for the better. Having said that, the standard of street cleanliness in some areas of the city was awful. Litter and plastic bags were all over the place. To the visitor's eye it left a bad impression.

Two years ago here in Ireland a small levy was imposed on plastic bags in supermarkets etc. The money raised goes to create a better environment. It's been a tremendous success. People now use long-life bags for shopping and the streets are tidier and cleaner.

So perhaps Britain could adopt a similar idea. Let's hope so.

I worked as a wool sorter in Bradford until 1968, after which I joined British Road Services to 1985. If anyone remembers me, I would be happy to hear from any of my old friends.

Bill Bartle, 12 Barrack Green, Kinsale, County Cork, Republic of Ireland.