I AM writing in connection with your article 'Parents in prison row'. How small minded are these people? They really should listen to themselves, and realise just how uncharitable and judgemental they are!

I work in a school for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties and can honestly say when you actually get to know them and their backgrounds, then you can understand just why they are referred to a special school for help.

As for using the phrase 'borstal' or 'prison', where are these people coming from? The establishment in which I work is a residential school which caters for a number of children, both daily and residential. I am not pretending that we don't have any problems within school, but show me any school, special or mainstream, without a few problems throughout the school week!

We are holding a Family Fun Day on Saturday at Tyldesley Highfield in order to raise money to take our children on a well deserved trip to Euro Disney. We have been around the town centre of Tyldesley offering advertising space for a small fee in our programme of events. Much to our delight, all but two businesses/shops have donated prizes and money to our cause, showing their full support and encouragement in our quest to raise enough funds.

I have had many discussions with colleagues saying if only people took time out to learn a little about these children, they would be surprised to find there is nothing sinister about the school or the children.

Sarah Stares

Learning Support Assistant/Counsellor

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.