RE the fall in discipline at school today.

When I was at school (about the time the wheel was invented) children on the whole were afraid of things like the dark, their father, the headmaster and the local 'bobby'.

The latter would more than likely give one a clip round the ear. If you told your dad you got another one.

I know the cane is taboo nowadays, outlawing such severity is welcome.

However, the discipline administered to us in those days, somewhat prepared us for the army at the outbreak of war in 1939.

Even in that protracted conflict, I never heard the word 'stress' mentioned, and to my knowledge discipline was maintained.

My recall of bullying is meagre, though I do remember being informed occasionally that I would be fighting Donald in the field across the road after school. I would be positioned at a point on the lower part of the gradient.

Someone holding my specs, making Donald a mere blur. Oh dear! Happy days!

WILLIAM AUSTIN, Bute Road, Blackburn.