OH, how I agree with Frank Atkinson (Letters August 31) as my previous letters - and replies from other readers - bear testament.

English is not taught as it should be, despite the present Government's protestations to the contrary. The general standard is not only poor, but absolutely deplorable. For instance, I was looking in Dixon's window and saw a large printed board (obviously used all over the country) which was advertising 'ONdigital' boxes for television stating 'the signal comes through your ariel' - an obvious reference to washing powder perhaps? I am afraid that standards will continue to decline for some time to come, perhaps 20 years, until the generation after next improves, by which time it will be too late. By then, English as we used to know it will have degenerated into a form of monosyllabic mutterings and written phoneticisms.

Michael M McCulloch,

Coda Avenue,

Bishopthorpe,

York.

...I HEARTILY agree with Frank Atkinson's views on today's schooling. In this highly technical age of mobile phones, computers etc, we seem to have achieved very little in teaching. Spelling is simply atrocious. The art of writing letters will soon disappear.

Many moons ago I attended Dringhouses School where teaching was of the highest level because of the headmaster, Mr Brayley - 'Gaffer' to us children and his staff.

Leaving school at 14, I was very well prepared for life ahead.

Patricia Brooke,

Westfield Place,

Askham Lane,

York.

...I HASTEN to assure Frank Atkinson that he is not alone in his criticism of errors on the printed page.

While I have no wish to undermine the sentiments expressed in the letter preceding his from no less than our director and deputy director of Educational Services, I could not help noticing the split infinitive 'to formally recognise' and the repetition of 'formally' within the opening sentence of their tribute to the staff and governors of Queen Anne School. I rest my case.

Brenda M Tomlinson,

Westfield Grove,

Wigginton, York.

...MR Atkinson may be interested to read an extract from an examiner's report for a Junior County Scholarship in 1931.

Pupils "displayed no knowledge of the subject matter of the question and there was evidence that the candidates were quite unable to write a few words without gross errors of spelling, grammar and composition". The report also stated that: "Spelling will always be a source of much trouble in our language."

R H Taylor,

Stockton Lane,

York.