Letters to the Editor

The inclusion of local councillors and paid officials of Bradford Education Authority in the new Education Policy Partnership seems like a fudge of the first order.

We need the politicians to step aside from education and let the local schools manage themselves with the per capita sum assigned to them and away from local government.

How will the private company Serco deliver on these matters? If the proposals go through, the decision-making will still be in the hands of councillors and ex-council administrators. The proposals are absurd. The education in this city will not change, it will go on as usual and the pupils of Bradford will continue to languish low down the lists of attainment. The opportunity for radical change has been missed.

We have been consulted about a change in managerial structure (with a low response). Why cannot we be consulted about this proposal before it is too late?

We shall not, of course, be consulted because power and the local government establishment must have its say in the decisions.

We treat our head teachers in education as mere cyphers.

Philip Jackson, Lister Avenue, Bradford 4.

SIR - I was interested to learn that Stuart Baker (Letters, May 7) has access to statistics in the EU publications office where he works in Brussels.

Perhaps he could let us know how much money is being "invested" in the 13 Eastern Europe candidate countries to groom them for EU entry.

Germany is already worried about the cost and suggested the UK's rebate should be reviewed, as well as moving to a European government (modelled on Germany's) to cope with the unwieldy size of the organisation.

As for the euro, outside the Eurozone the UK continues to thrive as the world's fourth largest economy, trading with countries around the globe.

Keeping the pound is essential if we want to retain control over our interest rates and economy, so ensuring future prosperity.

It will be interesting to see how the Eurozone citizens adjust to the transfer to euro notes and how their economies adapt.

I wish them well, but do not want the UK to be one of the guinea pigs and jeopardise our economic success.

Mrs Susan Watson, Foster Park Road, Denholme.

SIR - In the last 20 years, no-one with the power to run this country efficiently has done anything to deter crime, now at a very high level. There seem to be more murders, rapes and mugging, grievous harm all around.

Building more and more jails is not the way to deal with it.

There are too many do-gooders in the country, doing away with the cane in schools, and interfering in the social behaviour patterns that kept discipline in schools.

Now kids do what they like and abuse people who say anything to them. Too many young offenders don't seem to mind going back and forth to jail. Jails should not be beckoning, for easy residence.

This needs to be changed, so hooligans would fear going to jail, with no easy life but 12 hours per day back-breaking work. They wouldn't come back again in a hurry.

I can't see what harm a caning in school could do.

After all, it didn't do my generation any harm. It made us respect people who were trying to prepare us for a better life, when we left to start work.

Bill Hudson, Woodvale Close, Tyersal.

SIR - New Labour are to encourage positive discrimination in favour of female candidates. This implies, or at least one infers from it, that women make better legislators than men.

Since this Government has a minister for women it also implies that women need a woman to look after their needs. Note there is no minister for men!

If this isn't blatant sexual discrimination then what is? When one looks at the women on the Government benches, who on earth would want more?

P E Bird, Nab Wood Terrace, Shipley.

SIR - Diane Duguid writes from New York to say how proud she is of being English, and proves it by flying from her US home three national flags, not one of which is the English national flag.

I'd despair if it wasn't for learning that sales of English flags have doubled recently, and thousands of St George's Day cards are now being sent - sadly most of them purchased from Clinton's, a US company.

Americans long ago learned the pulling power and advertising advantage of their national flag. Our business leaders are Rip van Winkles. Wake up! Don't they recognise a trend starting?

No US business would feel complete without their flag flying outside.

Flags are colourful. They stop the eye and attract people. Instead our businesses fly the EU flag which probably turns potential customers away. It certainly puts me off.

Eric Firth, Wellington Street, Wilsden.

SIR - Members of the Bradford branch of the Alzheimer's Society are very concerned about a financial appeal some people have recently received from an organisation called The Alzheimer's Foundation. We have received several inquiries asking if the two organisations are the same.

We should like to make it clear to your readers that the organisations are totally different.

The Alzheimer's Society is also a national charity but, unlike the Alzheimer's Foundation, has branches that work in local areas providing support, information and help to people with dementia and their carers. Donations to the Bradford branch of the Alzheimer's Society are used in the local communities.

The Alzheimer's Society is committed to maintaining the highest ethical standards in its fundraising, both locally and nationally. It also runs its own "Research Now" programme with research into causes and treatments for dementia.

We hope that this letter will make matters clear.

Ruth Gallagher, branch co-ordinator, Alzheimer's Society (Bradford branch), North Parade, Bradford.