ABOUT 70,000 children are skipping school every day in Britain and some of the worst truancy rates are here in the North-East, with little sign of improvement.

It is a problem which contributes to anti-social behaviour and one which has to be tackled.

But the vast majority of responsible parents will be appalled at the suggestion that truants should be rewarded with less homework.

A day off from homework is one of the suggested incentives aimed at promoting good attendance on the Government's Teachernet website.

We consider the idea to be as barking mad as the policy which recently came to light in one secondary school to allow pupils to use the f-word no more than five times a day.

Discipline and strong values have to be the bedrock of education and they are being slowly eroded.

Of course we want children to enjoy their time at school. But, equally, we do not want to see classrooms turned into holiday camps where boundaries are not drawn.

If truants are encouraged back to school by the promise of a day off from homework, what kind of message does it send to the majority of youngsters who go to school to work hard and learn?

Failure to attend school is an extremely serious matter for both the offending pupils and their parents.

It should be dealt with through punishment, not reward.