SIR - Three cheers for Tyersal School's headteacher for refusing to give condoms and pills to the pupils.

I think it is a disgrace for any school to give children access to such things. They should be teaching them other things than sex. Get them out walking or playing rounders and cricket.

Drill into them the finer things in life and keep their minds clear, not filled with immoral thoughts.

I do hope Mrs Law's thoughts and ideas are passed on to other schools so that the children will live cleaner and better lives.

Mrs F Pickles, Wade House Road, Shelf.

SIR - Re the letter from Mr J Knowles (May 16). Some years ago we were very surprised to see what we thought was a white blackbird in our garden. We had quite a lot of fun telling our friends and neighbours about it and they thought we were crazy until we showed it to them. I have never seen one before or since.

I would also like to mention that the column on May 8 "50 Years Ago" about the textile workers was about my father Mr C W Llanwarne, who was the manager of the Bradford Employment Exchange.

Mrs I Buckley, The Avenue, Clayton.

SIR - I need to correct a misquote in your report on the proposal for a six-term year for schools (T&A, May 20). The article correctly quotes me as saying I believe there are strong educational arguments to support the proposal. It incorrectly quotes me as saying "after full consultation I believe it makes sense to do it".

As the consultation hasn't finished it doesn't make sense factually, grammatically or politically. I'll leave it to your readers to judge for themselves whether I would have said such a thing.

I am more concerned about the editorial Comment which shows a lack of understanding of the present situation and the proposed changes. It claims a change to six-terms would put Bradford schools "out of synch" with the national examinations system. It won't.

It also seems to be under the false impression that Bradford and its neighbours currently have exactly the same pattern of holidays, which they don't.

Quite shoddy effort, more background reading required, 3 out of 10.

Councillor David Ward, Clara Road, Bolton Villas, Bradford 2.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Our reporter stands by the accuracy of her notes and the fact that Councillor Ward told her "it makes sense after full consultation." Our Comment was based on the fact that there has not been full consultation and there shouldn't be a decision until full consultation has taken place. At no stage did our leading article suggest that Bradford currently has the same pattern of holidays as its neighbours but we do know that a move to a six-term year would be much further out of step than the odd few days disparity that currently exists. We stand by our opinion that councillors should not be allowed to force this through without giving every parent, teacher and governor their say.

SIR - I sincerely hope that building in Bradford's green spaces will not happen. I have visited my brother many times in Idlethorpe Way, Idle, and the view from his flat is magnificent. I would hate to see houses in that beautiful green space.

Once these spaces are let go to development there would be no stopping further development because there would be a precedent set. I urge everyone who is concerned to attend the meetings concerning the green spaces.

Your children and grandchildren need these areas as do the elderly who live in flats and have no gardens of their own in which to wander and admire nature.

Rosalyn M Schrag, Soap Lake, Washington State, USA.

SIR - The powers that be, regardless of public protest, still seem to be intent on closing Bingley Hospital. Have they really given any serious thought to the future of the excellent staff, the physiotherapists, those who care for the elderly at the day hospital and, of course, the patients themselves?

The centre, serving Bingley and the surrounding districts, will be greatly missed. We are to be deprived of what has been an excellent service to the community for many years.

Come on, think again and allow Bingley Hospital to continue being an excellent centre, or don't the people of Bingley matter any more?

Miss H Mills, Myrtle Avenue, Bingley.