A MATTER which I find to be perplexing, is that those people who are concerned about the idea of increasing the number of grammar schools causing more social divisiveness, never seem to question the existence of the most socially divisive institutes in the UK, the public school.

These schools are bastions of wealth and privilege, yet the Labour Government of the 60s made no attempt to destroy them, as they did the grammar schools.

If they were striving for a level playing field in education, then public schools should have been the first target.

These schools now argue that they provide bursaries, to enable those with ability who cannot afford the fees, to attend. This is a red herring.

This level of education should be available to all, and not depend on the size of parents' (or grandparents') bank balance.

One cannot help thinking that many of the Wilson Government, and many Socialist MPs were public school educated, and regarded such schools as 'Sacred Cows'.

It is time that such institutions were regarded as an anachronism, and fee-paying schools were consigned to the past.

A good education should be a right, and not a privilege based on wealth. Grammar Schools in those authorities that still have them, provide that.

It is a sobering thought that prior to the drive to convert to comprehensive education, Manchester Grammar and many other top schools in Manchester were open to anyone who passed the entrance exam:no fees were involved. Since that time, how many would have benefited from such an education,if those schools had not become fee-paying?

Those schools were forced into this action to be able to maintain exam entry: as George Orwell said: "All Animals are equal,but some are more equal than others."

David Olliver, Altrincham