Letter: Bored by the Bard

Sir: Brian Glanville (Letters, 7 July) totally misinterprets my comments on compulsory Shakespeare for all at the 14-plus tests.

In saying that a good half of children would be bored by having Shakespeare rammed down their throats in this way I was merely reflecting a simple reality. Nothing in what I said implies that those who would be bored and consider Shakespeare irrelevant are to be drawn exclusively from any social class, still less working-class children. I am sure that the National Youth Theatre has inspired interest in Shakespeare among many children. It is just this range of genuine interest in the performing arts that is likely to be snuffed out by the Government's arrogant insistence on legislating in detail that which all pupils must learn at a particular age.

Yours faithfully,

NIGEL de GRUCHY

General Secretary

NASUWT

London, WC2