Letter: Vocal disagreement

Sir: Dorothy Hampson (Letters, 24 January) laments the demise of community singing, blaming first schoolchildren, then teachers, and finally the Government. As a schoolgirl with plenty of 'musical knowledge' (something Mrs Hampson claims teachers are unwilling to pass on), I attribute my decision not to sing Christian hymns neither to being a 'philistine', nor having a 'macho image', but to the fact that I am a non-believer.

Those in my school who do not sing in assembly respect the beliefs of those singing around them; we expect a similar tolerance in return.

Yours faithfully,

KATIE DRUMMOND

London, SE3