Letter: Reading list fit for teenagers

Sir: Bryan Appleyard's laughably incoherent article 'The loose canons of academe' (16 March) left me goggle-eyed with amazement. As an English teacher, my main objection to a mandatory reading list is in its lack of flexibility with regards to the needs of the individual and the class. He states that the list is a good thing because it's a good thing. Well, he really has me (and thousands of astute children) won over with such a display of intellectual fire power.

I am happy to invite Mr Appleyard to teach Shakespeare to a group of 14-year-olds. Is he available to put his beliefs into action? Or is he typical of his Pharisee-like generation - a 'do-as-I-say-not- as-I-do' preacher?

Yours,

RUSSELL HALL

Head of English

Holbrook High School

Holbrook, Suffolk

16 March