SIR: James Marshall Bridge's arguments do not become very much clearer on his second attempt (BEN June 4). His original letter attempted to blame anti-social behaviour among the young on the prevalence of the culture of "Political Correctness" (PC) and "equal opportunities" in schools. Of course I know perfectly well why he quoted the anecdote about the suspended lecturer. My purpose in describing the recruitment practices of the town's largest employer was to illustrate that the lecturer was giving rank bad advice, and deserved suspension if he didn't know any better than that. Nowt to do with Political Correctness.

Political Correctness, as your contributor seemed to recognise in his first letter when he talked about people being directed to refer to chalkboards instead of blackboards, is concerned with the language people are encouraged to use in order to influence attitudes. Only one attempt has ever been made to introduce it to the local political arena, in a report a couple of years ago called "towards a disability etiquette". Thus, instead of talking about people being "handicapped" we are encouraged to talk about them having "learning disabilities". I have always preferred to call a spade a spade, and it is a matter of record that, when the report surfaced in Committee, Cllr John Hanscomb and I took turns to kick it to death from opposite sides of the Committee room table. It did not survive the experience. As I said, at the time and since, I have never been Politically Correct in my life.

Cllr Peter D Johnston

Chair, Personnel and Equal

Opportunities Subcommittee

Bolton MBC

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