Readers' letters - May 31

Make PE optional in schools and exercise children's talents

So exams are stressing pupils and blighting their lives, with headteacher Jo Fiddes describing them as “cruel”.

They are, however, a preparation for life, which involves testing of many kinds – I recall the driving test as particularly stressful – and difficult interviews which could have life changing results.

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However, what I have never seen is an article describing how stressful PE is to a child who has no interest in, and no capacity for, for example, contact sports.

I am such a person, and I believe that lesson after lesson of PE undermined my self-confidence in one way (“never volunteer for anything”) and developed my ability to dodge to a high standard.

Removal of this torture from the timetable for those of my opinion, or, better still, allowing a choice to involve music, drama, needlework, crafts (all under threat in a crowded curriculum) would be much more constructive.

Indeed, speaking to a man who was an organist and a lecturer in music at a training college, we asked him what had made him decide to move on from childhood piano lessons to take up the organ.

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His answer, “organ lessons took place in PE”, made us laugh, but in fact this had made a career for him, besides much personal satisfaction.

D P

via email

Britain would

be a sitting duck

Following Jeremy Corbyn’s latest comments regarding terrorism, nobody can be left in any doubt what the Labour Party’s policy would be towards the defence of this country.

His comments are no different from suggesting that, if the school bully hits you, then you should not hit him back lest he hits you harder. Far better to go and hide and perhaps he will leave you alone – even if he does continue to beat up everybody else.

Corbyn has already insisted he would never use Trident, so why spend billions on its replacement?

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Is it at the insistence of trade union leaders, who would really be in charge, demanding job security for their members?

A nuclear deterrent is just that – a deterrent to those who might wish to attack our country. How can it be that if they know it will never be used?

Under Corbyn, with his pacifist policies, Britain would be a sitting duck for any foreign power which chose to threaten us.

For that reason, this man must never be trusted with the security of this country and can never be elected.

Mike Smethurst

Address supplied

Don’t let these traitors back in

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In view of the terrible bombing at Manchester, it is time to take drastic action against these vile miscreants.

Any person who has left this country to fight for IS should have their British passport shredded and be deported.

They should never ever be allowed back into this country.

If they have been born in England then they should be imprisoned.

Obviously they have terrorist sympathies, they are terrorists themselves and need to be treated accordingly. They are traitors to our country and do not deserve any human rights.

Janet Berry

via email

Labour has

been reunited

What a pity that Mrs May called this unnecessary election because, in so doing, she seems to have reunited the Labour Party.

Arthur Quarmby

Address supplied