MANY schools impose financial penalties on parents for taking their children out of school as they regard that the child’s education is important. That is fair.

But, parents have the right not to send their children to school at all; they can opt to have their children home educated and not have to follow the national curriculum.

Why does the government give parents this option in the first place? If education is so important, why do schools close down for teacher training days, why not train the teachers on weekends instead? Why are teachers allowed to go on strike during the school week, and when they do, why don’t parents get a rebate?

How are fines calculated? I’m sure that an official mathematical formula or calculation chart has to be consulted to work out the amount; surely they don’t just pick a number out of the air.

I may seem a bit cynical, however I do agree that children’s education is vitally important, but surely there needs to be some flexibility.

JEREMY DAW Credenhill