Letter: Popularity poll

Wednesday 29 December 1999 00:02 GMT

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Sir: I was intrigued to discover that popularity is the unquestioned goal of early-years education ("Children of stay-home mothers are lonely", 22 December). You show no interest in questioning the notion that children who have fewer friends are "lonely" and "find making friends difficult". One could equally well conclude that children with fewer friends had closer friendships and were less superficial. And of course one is tempted to wonder how popular was Einstein, Van Gogh or Beethoven at the age of 10.

JULIE BOTEV

London W12

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