SIR: So hard-up local authorities and central government can suddenly find millions of pounds to spend on disruptive children who need to be "disciplined" in "sin bins" to finish their education.

When will they ever learn?

All children need to learn discipline at a very early age, in mainstream education.

"Show me a child of seven and I'll show you the man," is an adage that rings very true. If children were "disciplined" from day one, to realise that the disruptive element will not be tolerated in school, sin bins would not be needed, and the millions of pounds of taxpayers' money that is obviously available to be spent could be spent on our dilapidated schools for the benefit of all our children.

Brian Derbyshire

Ribchester Grove, Bolton

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