I was very pleased to see the action the headteacher took following the walk-out by pupils at Blatchington Mill School in a so-called anti-war demonstration.

If only his action had been replicated by the heads of any other schools similarly affected.

There were two issues involved here. The first is the increasing lawlessness of children of all ages.

This is bad enough in itself but it is compounded by the whinging that follows when they are confronted by what is, after all, no more than firm and deserved retribution.

The second, and even more worrying issue, is the reaction of the pupils' parents.

Their comments, as reported, were even more frightening with regard to the future of this country than the reaction of their children.

"All he did was express his views on the war. It is nothing more than youthful idealism" was one comment and "It's vindictive" was another.

This is not new but the continuing theme of "my children can do no wrong" bodes ill for our future.

The whole theory of anti-war demonstrations is bunkum. They were intent on nothing less than disrupting the school as much as possible.

If they had wanted to protest about the war, they had all day Saturday and Sunday to do it. Has no one thought about that?

-S Bretton, Manor Drive, Flockton, Wakefield