IT would appear that Gary Duncan (Letters, Oct 14), is trying to use totally unreasonable, far-left views to attack how Pennywell School has enforced certain rules.

It is up to governing bodies to make and give headteachers the power to enforce rules in their school. If you cared enough to be a school governor, you would know that of course!

Do you want to see schoolchildren smartly dressed while at school, to make them look like young adults, which they will be by the time they leave the school? Do you want children to respect their peers and teachers by following rules?

By keeping the pupils in at lunchtime it may allow the children to eat more healthily and have the chance to exercise. Remember the catchment area of the school has a high level of poor health.

Keeping pupils in at lunch keeps them off the streets, where the school can keep an eye on them and stop them being a nuisance to surrounding areas.

By having more pupils in school at lunchtime will mean more staff needing to be employed and more revenue from school meals.

If you truly want our city's children to grow up and have respect for others, to have the drive to better themselves by using the machinery of the state, to improve themselves and learn new skills, you should support, not oppose.
Coun David Errington,
Doxford Ward

Barmy campaign
I TAKE issue with the article you printed on October 18 "Keep Speed Camera Vans Same Colour."
Claire Armstrong, of the barmy Safespeed campaign, suggests that the vans should be the same colour as "consistency is good on the roads". Indeed it is! Since the 1930s the Department for Transport and its predecessors have specified and used a method of standard signing and lighting to indicate what the maximum speed is. It has changed little since its inception.
She continues: "The problem is that too often motorists are not paying attention to the road because they're worrying whether every van in every lay-by is a speed trap." Now why would that be one wonders? Is it because they are aware that they are exceeding the speed limit and therefore worry?
Motorists deliberately flouting the law in choosing excess speed increase the potential for fatal and serious injuries to themselves and to others, particularly others who choose to practice what they were taught when the were given their driving licence, to observe and drive within the speed limits.
The Safespeed campaign started out with an idea that suggested speed did not increase the potential for collisions and that speed limits should not be imposed on drivers with above-average ability. No practice or research supports this; in fact all notable road-related studies in the subject suggest just the opposite.
Continuity is provided by speed limit indications and they are all noted in the Highway Code and the Department for Transport leaflet "Speed: Know your limits" found on the web at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/speedmanagement/speedknowyourlimits.pdf
When the law and driver training is safely observed there is absolutely no requirement for consistency in speed enforcement vehicle colour as the driver who chooses that method has absolutely no reason to acknowledge their presence.
Steve Callaghan,
Kendal

Bonfire burnables
NOVEMBER 5 approaches.
May I put in a plea to all residents not to give any material to youngsters unless they are certain that the likely bonfire is official and will be supervised by adults.
The material handed over should not contain plastic and should be completely burnable.
Norman Bohill,
Staveley Road,
Sunderland

Run to help pets
IF you've been lucky enough to secure a ballot place in the 2009 Flora London Marathon I'm sure there are a million and one things "running" through your mind. What kit to buy, which training schedule to follow, what foods to eat and most importantly what time to aim for. Why not use your privileged position to raise money for a worthy cause?
Leading veterinary charity PDSA cares for more than 350,000 pet patients every year and relies on the generosity and goodwill of the public to fund its PetAid services. So why not use your run to raise money to help sick and injured pets in your local area at Sunderland PetAid hospital?
Taking on 26.2 miles on April 26, 2009, for pets in need of vets is a big challenge, but a worthwhile one. And best of all you will help keep tails wagging throughout Wearside.
To find out how to help PDSA, please contact me on 01952 204 791 or email marathon@pdsa.org.uk
Brenda Alexander,
PDSA Fundraising Manager

You eased our burden
I AM writing to thank all of the people and Anthony's mates and friends who paid their respects, and all the flower there were for him, for my grandson Anthony Blakelock, also for the grand service by the vicar of Holy Trinity and the journey to his resting place.
The presence of all of you made my burden and I'm sure my son Philip's and all of the family's, a lot easier to bear. Thank you all.
RIP my good, kind and lovable grandson Anthony, not forgetting your ready smile and you mam Susan.
God bless,
Grandad