Why all this nonsense about not smacking your children? As long as they are not hit round the head and physically abused, a clout round the back of the legs does a world of good.

I had five children and very rarely did they need a smack, but if they did I gave it to them and it always worked wonders.

Children have to learn to respect their parents and elders. Right now they do neither - most of them don't even say thank you if given a present.

To say thanks is just common decency - but then decent behaviour has gone out of the window, primarily because there is so little home life any more.

-J Adams, Brighton