SIR – The recent article about the number of children leaving school without the ability to swim, tell the time or ride a bike, is not surprising in the least.

These are skills that should be taught by parents or guardians. Instead many of these children probably have a greater understanding of computers and the digital age.

I personally have met a university student who couldn’t understand a 24-hour clock.

We can’t blame teachers for that.

I think we have put too much pressure on teachers to become secondary parents to these children.

Let teachers become the academic mentors and let the parents or guardians be the life skill educators.

Paul Laverty

Worcester