THE fact that we are reduced to collecting tokens from crisps packets to pay for school textbooks and maths equipment is a sign of how little value those in power in this country place on education.

Now we learn that Westlands First School has introduced "clocking on" and rewards in the form of burger voucher for good timekeeping (Evening News, May 5).

This takes us to a new, despairing low and apparently shows what the ultimate goal of "education" is now supposed to be.

"Clocking on" is a degrading practice, and incidentally is increasingly being phased-out by employers, while the incentive to consume more burgers can only accelerate the rise of obesity (already at alarming levels), generally worsen health, and further degrade the global environment.

The scheme will do nothing to assist the development of thinking, creative and moral adults, and everything to promote the growth of an obedient and docile population without the mental capacities to think about more than short-term gain. Do we really want to take the next step towards the sort of society envisioned in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World?

It is bad enough that politicians reduce education to exercise-in-efficiency and value-for-money and that big business is allowed to dictate our future. Let us please not help them any more than we have to.

GRAHAM GARDNER, Birtsmorton, Malvern.