Reading about the 11-year-old lad who hanged himself because of bullying at school (The Argus, December 15) makes me wonder.

Looking back on my school days during the Forties, I recall being bullied until I left at 15 and I would not be surprised if most, if not all, Argus readers can remember being subjected to some form of teasing from their school mates.

While I was at school, a system was set up by staff whereby older senior children were appointed as playground monitors to keep a watchful eye out for any signs of bullying, and it worked. Bullies were very quickly spotted and told, in no uncertain terms, to mend their ways or else. The "or else" meant the cane or size 12 slipper from the headmaster, the incident recorded in a special report book and the offender's parents duly informed.

This system worked well but now, due to the so-called experts, schools can no longer chastise wayward children and are totally powerless - and the playground louts, thugs and bullies know it.

My heart goes out to the family of Ben Vodden, who I feel was another victim of this "hug the thug" society, a society where the victim is last in line for any kind of justice and when justice appears, it's always too late for them.

  • Barry Harvey, Whitehawk Close, Brighton