HOW I most heartily agree with Philip Roe’s letter (April 14). I attended Nunthorpe Grammar School in the early 1950s and we had a similar discipline procedure to that he had at Archbishops.

His letter brings back memories of teachers such as “Mousey” Martin, “Pop” Over, “Greasey” Graham and “Flaff” Pecket, all masters who we treated with great respect.

Discipline was not reserved for the senior schools, it started at the junior schools. Several years ago I attended the 100-year anniversary of Poppleton Road School.

On the day we toured our old classrooms and had the privilege of meeting Miss Brogden and Mr Brown, teachers from years gone by who even at a young age we treated with great respect. There were old school photographs to be seen and amongst other memorabilia was the punishment book which by sheer coincidence was open at one of the years I attended. There was my name, three strokes of the cane by Mr Wilmott, our PE teacher.

My crime was fouling a fellow pupil during a game of football in the school playground, not knowing that Mr Wilmott was watching.

How I despair at the attitude, lack of manners and dress sense in the youth of today, perhaps Philip Roe is right, the threat of the cane would do them and society no harm at all.

A P Cox, Heath Close, Holgate, York.