LETTERS: Old habits

GERALDINE Bedell says that I "carried out research at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle in which ... almost all the pupils commit some ritual act of shoplifting when they leave school" ("How well do we know our children?", 3 March). This suggests that the research is current or recent. In fact, it is over 30 years old and was conducted as part of research into behaviour of all school children. I have no idea how pupils at the Royal Grammar School behave at present and would certainly not wish to cast aspersions on the fine reputation of the school.

Masud Hoghughi

Darlington, Co Durham