When I hear stories about the lack of discipline in British schools, I think of my childhood in Italy and feel grateful I had a chance to be educated in a peaceful environment.

It's all very well for N Butler (Letters, May 13) to say the social mix at Falmer School would improve if more middle-class children were sent there but why would Mr Oliviero want to take on this "social experiment" at his children's expense?

Unfortunately, I am beginning to believe some children's future will be hopeless and this belief is reinforced each time I find myself at the receiving end of unprovoked verbal abuse and threats by such disadvantaged children who obviously know, because of their age, they can get away with it.

And yes, I have informed the police each time and no, nothing has been done about it.

-Paola Rizzato, Brighton