I have just watched BBC News and seen an article on a shortage of teachers - a young teacher was interviewed.

I was horrified to hear him say, “I fink......”, and “I fought.....”, instead of “I think....” and “I thought....”!

How is it possible for someone to be employed to teach children when they cannot speak English, irrespective of which subjects they teach!

It is not a case of dialect. It is sheer ignorance and laziness to speak thus and what of the person hiring him?

Why on earth was this young man not picked up on his speech?

Young minds are influenced by teachers, and if they hear him speak in such a lazy way, they are going to copy him thinking it acceptable.

I remember 30 to 40 years ago, speaking to my nieces and nephews about their poor spelling, grammar and syntax in their homework and notes, and my nephew argued with me saying it was OK because his teachers did not correct his work - nothing I said made any difference.

It is little surprise that this country is so far down the international tables.

Keith Herriott
Thorndean Road, Brighton