With reference to your leader “School lists and heavy bags” (TMID, 2 October), I must state that it is a shame that schools seem to be so unprepared when the academic year starts.

Why should parents have to go to stationary shops each and every day, at least for the first two weeks of school, to buy items their children need? Is it so difficult to come up with a comprehensive list of items that is distributed to the children on the first day?

Why are teachers’ meetings held a few days before school actually starts? Is it to catch up on the gossip after the summer holidays? Why don’t they instead spend their time to compile such lists? Or do they think that everybody finishes work at 2.30pm like them?

I think that the Malta Union of Teachers should speak about teachers’ responsibilities and duties too, and not only about rights. Teachers should learn to respect the parents of the children under their care.

It is a real shame that parents are forced into such a thing. The problem is that if parents complain, their children will suffer the consequences.

S. Portelli

Mosta