SIR – Children learn a lot by copying the adults and other children around them. They also copy what they see in the media.

If parents binge-drink, take drugs, shout and swear regularly, use violence, throw litter down, show disrespect to other people, animals and the environment, what can one expect from the children?

Also, some people in Bradford often mutilate the English language, eg phrases I’ve overheard include “Them’s nice”, “Ger on bus”, “It wo gud”, “I didn’t do nothing”, (double negative) “Put some bu...er on yer bread”, “He was stood by the gate”, etc.

Therefore, good role models are needed.

School staff often have to try to compensate for what is lacking in the home environment before they can begin to teach.

F M Riddlesden, Gregory Court, Clayton