Parents missing from equation

As the son of two teachers (one a former head), it is hard to disagree with the level of discomfort caused by unruly pupils.

I will, however, take issue with the Express & Star's rather lazy targeting of the "TV culture" as a central reason for poor attitude.

Growing up just before the Little Britain boom, I was brought up on a steady diet of Dennis the Menace, Just William and the Goosebumps series - I have never, to my knowledge, terrorised my neighbourhood or my school, despite the dubious moral qualities of the protagonists within.

The editorial failed to note that it is the parents who grant the choice to watch these programmes, or even for children to have a television in their rooms at such a young age, especially in the case of post-watershed productions.

If a pupil uses profanity towards a teacher, incites mayhem in the classroom or threatens violence, blaming Simon Cowell is an easy scapegoat.

Instead, it plays a very minor part in society's failure of children, led by (some) parents failing to protect their children - neglecting the encouragement of a good diet, regular outdoor exercise, supervised television viewing, and yes - respect toward their neighbourhood and teachers.

Your article highlights the "endemic bullying and rudeness" of today's world. I would suggest that in society's clamouring for personal gain, a backlash has been caused due in large part to the neglect of those who should mean the most to them.

Michael Dallaway, Church Hill, Penn, Wolverhampton.