02/12/2005

Being so talented at an early age in such a popular profession, in this day and age when one can become a millionaire almost overnight, creates many problems.

How can a teenager handle such a situation? One can only wonder.

Yet I think even the Rev Peter Mullen and many others would much prefer the flamboyant lifestyle of the likes of George, however tragic, to the hell and half-baked existence of the teetotaller. - Douglas Punchard, Middlesbrough.

HOW sick I am having all the news concerning George Best's death, how much a tragedy it was, what a brilliant footballer he was.

He was not a footballer for long until too much money went to his head and he took to drink. He got a new liver and what did he do? He abused it.

Has anyone thought about all the people who have lost dear ones needing new livers? How must they feel?

No. I have no sympathy for George. He knew what he was doing. He was given a second chance and he blew it. - Mrs JS Hodgson, Spennymoor.

CHILD SUPPORT AGENCY

THE woes of the Child Support Agency are a welcome prompt to question some of its underlying principles.

One is the Thatcher legacy of earnings related to paternal contributions, which creates a highly selective deterrent to absent fatherhood. What kind of weird genetic and cultural experiment are we conducting when we knowingly reserve a substantial section of the nation's women to be impregnated exclusively by men with no income?

Another is the notion of automatic shared responsibility, which in any other context we would recognise as ensuring that no-one takes responsibility. Decades of propaganda may have failed to persuade young men that they are responsible for babies, but it has been very effective in convincing young women that the man is responsible.

Women can blame their difficulties on having been deceived, betrayed and abandoned by their "partner". They could not be so easily mislead as to a man's intentions if we had voluntary and positive opting-in to paternal responsibility prior to conception.

The CSA or its successor wouldn't then find itself with the difficult and destructive task of chasing those who have not in any practical, emotional or moral sense consented to the process. - John Riseley, Harrogate.

SCHOOL BULLIES

READING the recent letters in HAS concerning school bullying reminded me of my days at school and in particular a boy who, from the second year until several years after leaving school, was repeatedly physically and verbally bullied.

He was bullied on a daily basis by groups of individuals who always attacked from behind - leaving him with no chance to defend himself.

This constant bullying caused a clear drop in his grades, destroyed his self-confidence and ability to function, which wasn't helped by the fact that he knew that the teachers knew of this bullying but like his so-called school friends didn't lift a finger to stop the bullying, to help him or ask if he was OK.

For years a young man's life was made hell, his main bully became a wife beater, whilst a number of the remaining bullies went on to become the infamous gang known as the "Spenny New Breed".

During the 1980s they were responsible for acts of violence within the Spennymoor and Durham area.

All because the teachers refused to take action for the sake of the school's image. - HE Smith, Spennymoor.

LOCAL HEROES

I ATTENDED the 2005 Local Heroes Awards presentation evening at Hardwick Hall at which Darlington RA FC received the team award in the Over 18 category for the second time in four years.

However, despite the success of the team on the pitch in progressing from the Darlington and District League via the Auckland and District and Wearside Leagues to the Arngrove Northern League, it is two men in particular who are the true local heroes, namely the club's secretary Martin Jackson and David Woodcock the team manager.

Without the concerted efforts of these two gentlemen it is doubtful whether there would be an RA team playing football on Saturdays.

The work that these two put in running the club in their spare time is phenomenal and no praise can be enough.

Thank you very much Martin and David from everyone connected with the club. Your efforts are very much appreciated. - Doug Hawman, Chair, Darlington RA FC.

FLUORIDE POISONING

I WAS heartbroken to see innocent school children being given milk contaminated with poisonous fluoride and being brainwashed into believing it is good for them. How evil.

Does nobody question what this fluoride is and where it comes from? Fluoride is a listed poison with a toxicity rating equivalent to lead and arsenic. It is a raw industrial waste by-product from the manufacture of aluminium etc scraped from the scrubbers of industrial chimneys. It is both costly and difficult to dispose of safely.

The side-effects of fluoride are known to cause dental fluorosis, a brown staining of teeth which is the first visible sign of fluoride poisoning.

Proven longer term side effects include bone deformities (skeletal fluorosis), fractures, connective tissue and collagen damage causing premature ageing, reduction of IQ and brain function impairment, immune system deficiencies, some cancers etc.

Despite over 50 years of scientific research, there still is no evidence that fluoride can reduce tooth decay nor are there any tests for safety. Even Durham Area Health Authority admitted this in their fluoridation document.

Make up your own mind why the Government keeps trying to force this fluoride fallacy upon us despite overwhelming evidence against it. - A Hall, Darlington.

EXAM MARKS

A STUDENT protested that the work that had just been marked was worth more than six out of 20. It was agreed that the work was worth 18 out of 20, but the student still got six and the parent 12.

The next step in the controlled study required a good understanding of the recently marked course work. It was clear from material produced that this was not the case and that the mark of six was correct.

Teachers know their students' innate abilities and see when something out of the normal pattern is put forward. They also have the tools to check the validity of that pattern and need the freedom to assess its true value.

As a former chair of moderators, very few teachers were easy on their students and more were asked to be less severe.

Perhaps we should look at the situation more constructively and use the machinery of the examination boards to deal with those who go to lengths to cheat.

League tables have far too high an importance and this leads to students being coached to pass the written examination rather than setting situations that lead to an in-depth study.

The Tomlinson report points out this fact, but all governments shy away from introducing solutions. - Bill Morehead, Darlington.

THE SCHOOL CLOSURE DEBATE

COMPROMISE: RE the current impasse whereby the overwhelming majority of rural Sedgefieldbased constituents wish Hurworth to obtain independent Foundation status and Darlington Borough Council's dictatorial wish to close it and move it to a Darlington Industrial estate - surely a new compromise can be made?

Hurworth would become a foundation school serving the Sedgefield villages of Sadberge, Middleton and Hurworth communities.

Darlington could "selfishly" (as Ada Burns may put it ) create an East Darlington community school by closing down Eastbourne Comprehensive, Heathfield School, St Johns School and Dodmire School and thereby finance a much-needed new all encompassing school building with brand new facilities with the moneys raised. The new school is being called East Darlington Industrial Estate Community School. - Mark Anderson, Middleton St George

FOUNDATION STATUS

THE biggest concern to me about the academy proposal is the impact it will have on the staff, which will then have a direct impact on the students.

Three times now I have met with the LEA, and each time they have stated that they can not guarantee the jobs of any of the staff at Hurworth School.

If any of our staff leave, who will we get to fill the posts? Who will want to come and work at Hurworth School for only a couple of years?

This year the school achieved 80 per cent 5 A-C's. A school record from what has been described as our "worst year group" at the recent achievements night.

Our current year 11 set a new school record in their year 9 Sats, only to be broken by our current year 10, the following year. The potential for our next two years of GCSE students to achieve outstanding results is very real.

I fear that if staff start to leave, then the education of our students will be seriously disrupted and the potential of our current year 10 and 11 may not be realised.

The so-called and much-prized Hurworth "ethos" will be lost for ever.

A top performing school will be removed off the face of the earth by default and this will be of no benefit to improving education across the borough. The academy proposal is not in the best interest of Hurworth School and I did not want Hurworth to be part of it.

This is my view and my view only, and may not be the view of other governors. - Mike Jackson (parent governor ), c/o Hurworth School.

HURWORTH SURGERY

I WOULD like to expand on my findings when I attended this surgery in Hurworth Village Hall.

I dragged my husband with me and arranged for a babysitter as I thought it was very important to attend this surgery and of course to ask some questions about land in Hurworth. I was very disappointed that we were told to take the literature away and if we want to ask any questions, to put them in writing.

The three people who were there from Darlington Borough Council did not introduce themselves and were not prepared to discuss anything directly with me.

I came away with a lot of literature and, of course, it does not make sense to me and will probably take me a week to read to digest it.

It was very disappointing that a presentation was not given explaining everything to us and then for us to have the opportunity to ask questions.

If this is what they call consultation it was a complete waste of time, especially mine.

It would have been easier for them to send the brochure in the post to me and that way it would not have cost me money getting a babysitter.

I will, of course, be putting my questions in writing to them and I will expect answers. - Julie Jones, Hurworth.

SMALLER SCHOOLS

WHAT is wrong with the people in charge at Darlington Borough Council? Why are they so determined to close Hurworth School down?

Education is not free. Everyone pays VAT every time they step into a shop. Those in charge at Darlington Town Hall should remember that.

We need smaller secondary schools of about 600 students. Anything more will be too big. The people of Middleton, Sadberge and Hurworth do not need to have a long school run at the beginning and end of every school day.

The southern bypass is already full.

You try getting across the brick train roundabout at rush hour.

I notice the Prime Minister is avoiding Hurworth. He has visited schools in Darlington and Eaglescliffe but not in his own constituency. - Nigel Boddy, Darlington.