SIR - For 25 years until my retirement in 1992 I taught in Frizinghall. My initial assignment was to take small groups of children who were experiencing difficulties with language, reading and writing.

They were drawn largely from the families of European refugees and immigrants.

A typical remark in answer to a question I might ask went something like this: "I can tell you in Italian but not in English." My job was to ensure that they could say it in English.

These children attended Saturday schools where they learned of the cultural heritage of their parents in literature, dance, costume, music, etc.

The composition of my groups began to change and students were drawn from the Asian community.

Again I aimed to build up an essential "oral word and phrase" vocabulary to prepare them for full integration into the classroom. Maybe this created at first a group of children whose attainment level was below that of their peers, but it provided a platform on which to build.

In return we began to share in their celebrations, so broadening our own education.

Now I am proud to meet former pupils working in building societies, hospitals, dentists etc.

From my experience I feel convinced that the earlier children master the English language the more easily they will cope with the school syllabus.

Barbara Raine, Marlborough Road, Shipley.

SIR - The new proposal to let children speak in their own language in lessons is beyond a joke. As if teachers haven't enough to do, does this mean they have now to be bi-lingual? Will this not hinder other children and slow down progress as a whole? Instead of working together to ensure children get on, I can see this causing more divisions.

How can it possibly work in practice? Will classes be divided? Will all work be written out in "mother tongues"?

English children living in France would have to know the language - spoken and written. They wouldn't have any preferential treatment.

Going back to a proposal mentioned earlier this year regarding the teaching of "sexual awareness" issues to youngsters. Can't some things in relationships be left until they are more mature and able to deal with the issues? OK, knowing about sex is important but don't force sex education on children.Let them learn about what really matters in relationships - commitment, loyalty and that you don't have to sleep with them to show that you "love them".

Mary Byrne, Clover Street, Little Horton.

SIR - After months of vicious media speculation, John Leslie has been finally cleared of any wrong doing. A few weeks ago Matthew Kelly was similarly exonerated.

Twenty years ago another press campaign secured two victims: Sarah Tisdall who was shopped by the Guardian and Clive Ponting who told the world about the course of the Belgrano - because they had dared to embarrass Mrs Thatcher and her ministers.

Now we have an individual who spoke to reporters without permission, accepted hospitality at a London hotel without prior authority and disclosed classified information treated by the same commentators - including Mike Priestley - as a hero.

The only difference is that this time the target is Tony Blair who for whatever reason is hated by almost every journalist who contributes to newspapers, radio or television.

Double standards are the norm for these people so I fear that the odour which offends Mr Priestley's nostrils is not from a country in decay (North of Watford, July 26) but the stench of pious hypocrisy which informs much of what he and most of his colleagues write on a daily basis.

Brian Holmans, Langley Road, Bingley.

SIR - You recently published a letter of mine which commented on the incredible leniency shown to a police officer convicted of violent and malicious damage in Ilkley.

My comments then engendered resentment in certain (predictable) quarters, but perhaps the decision of the Appeal Court to quash the prison sentence passed on a serving uniformed police officer who was actually filmed in the act of deliberately and repeatedly kicking and striking a defenceless, unresisting prisoner will bring my erstwhile comments into even clearer perspective and, with luck, give pause to my previous critics.

In the current climate of escalating violent crime the imposition of community service for such wickedly savage and brutal behaviour beggars reason and the fact that the offence was perpetrated by a serving police officer aggravates rather than mitigates its gravity.

Had the positions of the two protagonists been reversed the civilian would have been fortunate to escape with less than four years imprisonment (not to mention the use of his limbs).

The police service should be above suspicion and beyond reproach. In my last letter I speculated that the blindfold on the symbolic figure of our country's justice system may have slipped; on the evidence of this latest outrage it appears that her scales are well overdue for scrutiny from the Department of Weights and Measures.

Bryan Owram, Main Street, Esholt.

SIR - I was surprised to see Carr Lane shut off for eight weeks. My mother and sister normally set off at 8.30am to be at work in Shipley on time. Now they have to leave at 8am just to make sure.

Carr Lane is a major link from Wrose to Shipley, but I see no work is being carried out at night or on Sundays. Why not have workmen working on the road 24 hours a day? This would then cut down the road closure time to around two weeks. It's not rocket science!

Glen Pearson, Claremont Crescent, Wrose.

SIR - I am tracing my Gledhill family tree. My father never mentioned any of his family, only that they came from Bradford. In the 1901 census they lived in Springmill Street, West Bowling: Herbert John (grandfather), Lydia (French grandmother), Geraldine, Mary, John (H), Charles, Augustus, Harold, Ada, Arthur, Horace, Frank (my father, the youngest at six months).

I would like to make contact with any descendants of the above. They may contact me via e-mail (j.gledhill@ntlworld.com) or telephone me on 01623 458043.

John Gledhill, Mansfield, Notts.