SO Dr Pettifer (Your Letters, September 24) would like to see young children banned from public places?

I can't think of a better way to educate my young family than to keep them away from places of learning (such as the library) and mixing with society in general!

Has Dr Pettifer stopped to think that often parents take young children to such places out of necessity? Or would he rather I stayed out of public life until my children are deemed old enough?

Besides which, I believe that it is precisely taking your children out into the wider world that allows you to teach them to behave appropriately.

I do appreciate that young children can be trying at times but we parents do our best to be considerate towards others and in my experience the majority of (less encumbered) people are patient and supportive.

NICOLA WIKELEY, Henley Place, Malvern.