LIKE many people who run their own businesses I’m fed up with hearing complaints from public sector workers that they are underpaid, overworked, and suffering from high stress levels.

The revelation that 166 teachers in Kirklees schools are now off ill every day beggars belief (Examiner January 5). Why is education management allowing this to happen? What support is available to address genuine health issues among teachers? Are controls in place to monitor absenteeism and is appropriate disciplinary action taken in questionable cases?

I, too, have worked in the public sector in a very responsible (and often dangerous) role in offender management, specifically with paedophiles. No-one in my team ever took time off because of stress, even though we also worked long hours and felt we were underpaid.

We were supported by an effective senior management team that was competent, properly monitored our performance and inspired us to get the job done.

Unfortunately, I've also worked for a council which employed hopeless middle managers who couldn’t take responsibility and which resulted in lethargic council workers who couldn’t wait to get home at five o’clock. I moved on!

Managers, get your act together and stop blaming children for teachers’ woes. Some kids just don’t know how to behave properly, so they go to school to learn, don’t they? As for those teachers who feel that they don’t get management support or can’t stand the pace in schools, do something else! We can all make choices; that's the beauty of having an education.

Will Roebuck

Chief executive, E-business Regulatory Alliance

Civilians suffer in Gaza

THE report by Channel 4 News of events in Gaza at the weekend reminded me that while politicians posture it is the civilian people who suffer.

A young man cradled the dead body of his 12-year- old younger brother, surrounded by family members united in grief. The boy and his friend had been playing on the rooftop of a safe house when they had been singled out and fired at by Israeli gunfire. The bloodstains could still clearly be seen splattered across the floor and walls of the home.

We are told that the targets are tunnels, weapon storage facilities and Hamas fighter bases. In reality the targets are schools, hospitals and mosques in Gaza. Israeli troops have launched a horrendous ground offensive deep inside Palestinian territory.

The fact that Hamas are a democratically elected government of Palestinian people is of little significance to Israeli authorities.

The western media have not been allowed inside Gaza, but pictures and reports are being smuggled out by amateur journalists. Quite rightly so these atrocities must be known to the world. Nothing can justify the systematic slaughter of a captive, unarmed civilian population. The slaughter follows two years of a blockade which has prevented essential supplies of food fuel and medicines reaching the people in Gaza.

Violence escalates violence. For humanitarian reasons we need to mobilise to campaign for the following:

An immediate end to the military assault on Gaza.

An end to Israel’s violation of international law and an end to the siege and blockade on Gaza.

I urge everyone to join the series of protests that are about to taking place locally, regionally and nationally to express solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.

Pauline Wheat-Bowen

Almondbury

Slaughter of the defenceless

JUST 10 kilometres (six miles) wide and 25 kilometres (eight miles) long Gaza is crammed with 1.4m of the poorest people in the world living on top of each other.

Given this, it is no surprise (except to those firing them) that even using the most advanced weapons available – much of which are supplied by the US and her friend the UK – the Israeli gunners have managed to slaughter the young, infirm and defenceless civilians they tell us are not their enemies.

The fact that this would be the outcome of pouring high-explosive rockets and shells into the rabbit warren of streets in Gaza City, where the tanks are now following, was known before the decision to slaughter innocent civilians dressed as a ‘proportionate response’ was made. It was known to Israel, the US and to the UK government.

It is imperative that everyone calls on our government, along with the US, to stop supplying Israel with the weapons they are now using to slaughter the innocent and that they in turn tell Israel to stop committing war crimes, lift the blockade that is strangling civilians and get out of Gaza.

Ray Deans

Deighton

Sympathy with baby Stephanie

MY heart goes out to the parents of baby Stephanie Brown with the rare condition Diffuse Cutaneous Mastocytosis (Examiner January 3).

I’m sure there will be a society or something where they can get in touch with others who suffer this horrible disorder. As for the public who shy away from Stephanie; they are ignorant and stupid. Stephanie is absolutely gorgeous and if she doesn’t grow out of the condition she will still be gorgeous. Some things people are just too blind to see. Stephanie has a loving, caring family and she will grow up to be the same. I can only wish you the very best for the future.

Mrs BP

Huddersfield

Benefits of a Tesco

NOT all Holme Valley people are against the proposed plans for a Tesco supermarket on the former Midlothian Garage site on New Mill Road. In fact, there are many, including myself, who would welcome it.

This development would bring much benefit to our district, not least in the form of employment for many people and for shoppers from Holmfirth and a wider area.

The development would not increase the traffic problem that already exists in Holmfirth town centre; this is wholly caused by indiscriminate parking by inconsiderate people parking on Victoria Street.

This problem would be eased considerably if no parking at all was allowed down both sides of Victoria Street.

Any traffic problems along New Mill Road would be minimal, as is the case at approaches to Morrisons’ Waterloo and Meltham stores. Schoolchildren using these roads would be unaffected as they should be using the pavements.

There may be an existing problem further along the road with parents doing the school run, but that is a separate issue.

The people who are against this development are the same people who were against the Co-op development and car park at Crown Bottom, the development of the Riverside Shopping Centre and the former Brook Turner butcher’s shop. All these have turned out to be improvements to Holmfirth town centre.

I, for one, would welcome a supermarket on New Mill Road, but then I am not a trader selling to local shoppers, I am a local shopper who would like to benefit from cheaper prices for food, petrol and other essential goods that a supermarket would bring. It would also save me an eight-mile journey to stores at Waterloo or Meltham.

jeffrey turner

Holmfirther, born and bred

Let’s quit the EU

TO cover up his many mistakes our Prime Minister is contemplating adopting the euro currency.

If that happens the corrupt bureaucrats will seize our gold bullion. Brown sold quite a lot of gold when it was at a low price and consequently it cost us dearly as later the prices of gold soared.

We need to pull out of the European Union; our membership fee would be used beneficially for our own country, not squandered down the European drain.

jack lockwood

Honley

Huffing and puffing

WHAT did the Lib Dems do for us? No this is not another Life of Brian sketch; it is the view of a frustrated Colne Valley resident.

After much huffing and puffing about the bus service and a public meeting (where at least one of the three operators were sufficiently impressed by our Lib-Dem councillors that they bothered to turn up) nothing has or will happen.

After much huffing and puffing about speeding motorists in the Colne Valley nothing has or will happen

After much huffing and puffing about the gritting service in the Colne Valley nothing has or will happen

After much huffing and puffing about the refuse collection not being collected as soon as snow is predicted within 50 miles of the Colne Valley nothing has or will happen

Maybe after much huffing and puffing about the service our councillors are giving us something will happen by electing anyone (even the Official Looney Party instead of the unofficial one)

Colne Valley Observer

Thanks to Round Table

SINCERE thanks to the Round Table and the Examiner for granting our Christmas Wish. There was an article in the Examiner a couple of weeks ago explaining our difficult last few months and how Christmas was going to be a difficult time, particularly for our two children.

The Round Table gave us tickets for the pantomime at Bradford’s Alhambra. We had a fantastic time; the kids loved it and we even received a round of applause at the end of the show when Billy Pearce called out our names.

The trip helped make Christmas a special time of year and we’d just like to thank the Round Table for all their hard work fundraising which made this trip possible.

Claire, Dean, Megan and William Heywood

Kirkheaton