No need to ban skrits at our local schools

C ONCERNING the Nailsea school skirts ban, I wonder why Mrs Tucker (Letters, 17 June) objects so much to seeing girls in short skirts, which have, after all been in fashion for several decades.

Short skirts do not interfere with school work, or indeed with most types of work where adults are concerned. Of course one goes to school "to learn" but that should not mean we all have to cover up our legs! When I was a student, most girls wore short skirts but they also worked hard and obtained qualifications despite this. At school, there are the distractions of computers, rock stars, fashion, the opposite sex and countless other things, but I hope no one thinks all these should be banned and children do nothing but study. What a narrow childhood that would mean. I think that we must encourage children to study as hard as they can, whilst recognising that they need a life in all its aspects at the same time.

Mrs Tucker argues that boys have to cope with trousers in a hot summer so therefore girls should have to. I would say, allow girls to wear skirts and boys to wear shorts so that no one has to worry about a heat wave.

J Turner