I READ Bill Hearld's article 'Why we never forget teachers' (March 16) with interest.

I attended a Catholic junior school in York and this was what I remembered about one particular teacher - I am sure many people remember her too.

She smiled and I knew I should not have tied a knot in my dishcloth knitting. Miss Coyle was old, I could not imagine how old and she had an angelic smile which she wore before smacking you. She kept a large ruler on her desk for this purpose which she waved in the air threateningly.

Her hair was grey and plaited on both sides of her head like earphones. Adults liked her but I didn't. I bet today's pupils would laugh if we mentioned the nit nurse - who called regularly.

Anne Church,

Severus Avenue,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 09:37 Saturday, March 20, 2004