DECLINING standards are a common complaint in our schools. Whether such complaints are justified or not is a matter for debate.

There does appear to be a refreshing realisation that grammar and spelling are basic fundamentals. It should not be left to employers to teach these basics of English to youngsters they take on from the schools. English grammar is making a forceful return to the school curriculum.

However, we don't always help our schoolchildren. A tournament was organised this week in "Kwik Cricket" for primary schools. We also have "Kwik Save" and "Kwik Fit". A glance at the Bradford telephone directory shows Kwik Kook, Kwikform, Kwikline, Kwik Shift, and Kwik Signs. I wonder how many children will grow up believing that the proper spelling of quick is kwik.

Sadly 'Kwik Cricket' is a widely backed national movement designed to introduce children to the game.

The use of the apostrophe has also been widely misused. A growing number of people appear to believe that the rule is to stick an apostrophe before an 's' at random, or if there is a vowel before the s. Thus we see "potatoe's" on the market stall, "thousand's" of bargains on shop windows, "video's" for hire.

These are common faults which permeate through our education system. We as a newspaper battle to correct them. But, as an editor, I often find myself asking why it is my duty to give lessons to new recruits.