AS a serving teacher of more than 30 years, you would think that more than anybody, Labour Councillor Richard Bird would understand Worcestershire's education funding plight, and at least show some support in trying to get the appalling discriminatory situation addressed (You Say, Thursday, December 23).

That is of course, as long as he is not putting his political loyalties first. As a teacher, he will know that were he teaching in any of our neighbouring counties, he would (or his school) would have considerable more funding per child per year at his immediate disposal.

I am not against out-of-school activities - I am a teaching assistant who on a regular basis gives up additional time voluntarily to help out with school activities.

What I want, is recognition and more importantly, funding, to reflect that the basic running costs of Worcestershire schools are the same as many other (currently much higher-funded) comparable shire counties, for whom the cash gap deficit between Worcestershire and the rest increases dramatically by the year.

HELEN DONOVAN, Evesham.