I MUST be honest and admit to being very surprised at the way schoolchildren can miss school and escape with such feeble excuses.

There are the ones on genuine leave from their classes, but it sounds to be so easy nowadays.

Don't these children, or their parents, ever think of their future in the big wide world when they go out job hunting? Surely it is never too early to begin really concentrating on education, learning all they can while they have the chance.

When I was at school, there was far less chance of skipping school and getting away with it, because we had officials known as School Attendance Officers who were very strict. Not many people knew at the time, but there used to be employment Inspectors, who would visit workers at home querying the reasons for a worker's absence from a job.

I had dealings with these people while I was at home recovering from a serious operation in hospital.

Surely if a child wants to get on in employment, he/she needs to be prepared for a good job coming up education wise.

W E Whitehead

Silchester Way

Breightmet