WE all know that grammar schools are successful so why is there no 11-plus in most towns and cities? When parents in Ripon were given a vote they voted to keep their grammar school.
We now have a two-tier system, bog standard comprehensives and for people with money a private education.
With the 11-plus we had three tiers and children who were academic regardless of their poverty could go to a grammar school, be well educated and usually end up with a good job.
However, Ed Balls, Education Secretary, says grammar schools are elitist and make less academic children feel a failure. His answer to this is to make sure all children are failures (except for those whose parents have money of course!) Ed was sent to fee-paying Nottingham High Schoo. Nuff said!
At Oxford and Cambridge universities the percentage of students from poor social-economic groups are only 9.8% and 11.8% respectively.
Years ago pupils were keen to learn and perhaps end up at a grammar school. Now they have no incentive to do well, with the lack of discipline, being brought down by the pupils who find it difficult to learn or are very badly behaved, they fail to achieve. It is called dumbing down.
Majorie Matthews,
Millfield,
Sunderland

Extortionate levels
WHEN the Margaret Thatcher Government sold the controlling shares in both North Sea oil and gas, the promised sell-off of the so-named utilities would provide consumers with improved and cheaper services.
This year alone fuel, water, gas and electricity bills have reached extortionate levels and are causing more poverty than the much vaunted ten-pence tax rate ever, managed to do. Even worse, the abandonment of a precious source of deep-mined coal, has left the UK at the mercy of global fuel profiteers.
In 1997 Labour's first 1,000 days began by addressing a Conservative legacy of a £26.4billion pound borrowing requirement and a massive three million-plus, unemployment figure. Add the Poll and Council Taxes to the malaise and the ten pence tax problems become peanuts, in comparison to the sell-off of the utilities.
No Government in history could have made contingency for such blunders and the true source of UK poverty should be aimed at the door of the Conservative Party where it belongs.
Fred Brady,
Hall Farm,
Sunderland

An ordinary person
YOU know that woman Sheila Ellis, a councillor for Houghton Ward, well next week she's going to take up cattle rustling and the week after that she's going to graffiti rude words all over the civic centre.
And I've heard that she has a lot of pigs on her allotment that she's teaching to fly so that they can drop disinfectant bombs on Houghton tip! I think it's disgusting that we should have to have a councillor like that who just does stupid things and doesn't care about us.
The trouble with speculating about what a person might or might not do is simply that, it is speculation. The rubbish in the paragraphs above is exactly the same as the rubbish spouted by your recent correspondent who accused me of her idea of my future neglect of my Ward of Houghton.
It ain't gonna happen.
As for all the lovely people like the dear gentleman George Rowe who have written, both publicly and privately, to offer me good wishes, I feel very humbled by your kindness.
To put the record straight, I never committed the "offence" of "accusing" the previous councillor of "putting (his) party's interests before the good of the people." It is certainly something I could not do as I am an Independent – I don't have a party. I am an ordinary person who has the honour or representing some 8,000 people, many of whom are extraordinary.
I certainly cannot fill big shoes. I do not have big feet, or a big hat.
Sheila Ellis,
Councillor, Houghton Ward

Power of silence
MANY readers will have heard of Quakers but some may not be aware of the Sunderland Quakers, whose Meeting House is a quiet, peaceful place, overlooking Roker Park.
One of the central beliefs of Quakers is the power of silent worship. To experience this, just come along at 11am on any Sunday.
However, our Friends Meeting House is also a venue for singing and dancing events, which are not quite so silent! We also have Healing Meetings on Wednesdays at 2pm and 6pm.
To find out more, come along to The Friends Meeting House, which is at 30 Roker Park Road, on the corner of North Grove, with a bus stop outside, or telephone 0191 549 5301, or try the website www.quaker.org
Chris Long

I'm dog tired of cat
I LIVE in Penwood Road, Pennywell, in Sunderland, normally a nice quiet place. Alas not quiet lately. Why?
Because some inconsiderate cat owner has taken to putting their black and white tomcat out on the streets every night.
It then spends the night in my back garden making unearthly loud noises.
The owner of this cat must live in or around Penwood Road.
So please can you keep your pet indoors at night as I'd like to get some sleep, as I have to get up early to go to work!
Dog Tired

FOOTBALL TRANSFERS
I LOOKED and looked and searched and searched,
In vain I laboured thus,
To see which famous football stars
Would come and play for us.
There's much talk of London's Tottenham
And even small West Ham,
The headlines favour Boro and the smallest in the land
But not a peep about the Lads, I refer to Sunderland.

Even that lot up the road have been active in this field,
They've opened up their purse strings
And some coppers were revealed.
I understand we made inquiries for a goalie from Peterlee
But alas it was a no-no, we couldn't afford the fee.

Of course we know the manager's
Been Down Under for many a day
Gathering bits of paper so a manager he can stay.
If he'd brought some players back with him
That might have been our due
But none were in his luggage,
Not even a kangaroo!

Roll up to buy your season, so the owners say,
Having pinched our shares investment
They need to show good play.
Alas it seems a pipe dream
But all supporters pray
Some new blood is secured
Before last transfer day.
L Richardson

Fete and car boot sale
HYLTON View Care Home on Old Mill Road, Southwick, will be holding a summer fete on Saturday, August 9 at 1.30pm. There will be a bouncy castle for the children and summer teas will be served. A variety of stalls includes bric-a-brac, toy stall, tombola, raffle and more. We also ask anyone who may be able to help out with donations for the event to get in touch with us on 549 6568.
We will also be holding a car boot and table top sale with teas and coffees on August Bank Holiday Monday, August 25. Anyone wishing to book a place can get more information on the above telephone number.
Marie Carr,
Activities Co-ordinator,
Hylton View Care Home,
Old Mill Road,
Southwick


I AM disgusted about the article in a national paper about the Shakespeare book's re-appearance and the gentleman living on a run-down council house estate.
Ayton village is one of the most sought-after in Washington and gentoo have just spent hundreds of thousands of pounds in renovations. I hope that gentoo intervenes and asks the editor of the paper for a tour of Ayton and then demands a written apology.
Disgusted Tenant

I FEEL I must write on behalf of us oldies to say what a pleasure it was to see the school prom suits and dresses in your paper. How beautiful they all looked. They would give some of the stars and beauty queens a run for their money.
Why do they have to dress in trainers, boots and sloppy clothes the rest of the time? Please let us see more of this dress sense.
Mrs J Lumley,
Burn Promenade,
Houghton

PEOPLE who moan'about the Post Office axe are mostly on benefits, so to get the bus means at least they are not paying for it because they are getting handouts. A ride into town will do them good. Also for old folk, it will be good for them to get out and about. It's getting where people want to sit at home and do nothing.
Come on, you never had it so good.
P Marshall,
Easington
Age 71