SIR - Doing our usual Friday morning shop at Tesco, I saw a boy and girl, both aged about 12, walking round with their mother. He seemed well, but the girl was "busy with tissues".

Chancing my arm and half expecting a strong verbal response, I said in passing: "No school today?" I was intrigued by the courteous reply of the mother, who answered for them. "No - he's getting over the 'flu, and she has it". I commented that they shouldn't really be out, or in a food shop - to which she said "it's all right, it doesn't matter, it's a Friday".

The health issue aside, do schools not open on Fridays any more?

When I was at school in the 1940s, if you were not well enough to go to school, you stayed at home until you were better. Is it not called truancy any more?

I would suggest, if there are still any school Inspectors about, that they pay the odd visit to any supermarket during the day - they might be quite surprised at who they find wandering around in there.

There are only a few precious years in which to get your complete education for life - don't waste a moment of them. You will only regret it - and the older you get, the harder it becomes to learn.

STANLEY D PARR,

Pershore.