Sir, - In response to Coun Halton's letter re Freebrough School, education in East Cleveland has always been politically motivated.

Against a background of failing rolls, DeBrus School was built at Skelton. When it became obvious it was not viable, attempts were made to close the very successful Huntcliff School in Saltburn.

This having been foiled, and with continuing falling rolls, another solution had to be found. In an expensive PR exercise, parents in Loftus, Brotton and Skelton were given three options, which included a new school on the Brotton site and a federated school.

It was well-known that the decision had already been made to have the federated option and Freebrough School come into being. This was politically motivated and had nothing to do with what was best for the children of East Cleveland. Split-site schools (even on two close sites let alone on three, separated by several miles) are notoriously difficult to administer.

The opportunity to start afresh with a brand new school in 2000 was spurned by the ruling Labour party and for the opposition parties, to which Coun Halton belonged, to "choose not to make political capital out of it" beggars belief.

Parents who could afford it voted with their feet and what was a trickle of pupils travelling to Laurence Jackson School in Guisborough became a flood rushing down the A173 every morning.

What about those pupils whose parents would have wished it but couldn't afford it (never mentioned by Conservatives from the leafy suburbs when banging on about freedom of choice), or those pupils who deserved the chance but whose parents weren't motivated to give them it. They are the losers in this and they only had the one opportunity.

Freebrough has not failed, as stated by your correspondent. In the five years prior to its inception the three schools from which it was formed achieved an average 5A*-C - pass rate of 25.3pc - against an expected rate of 33pc. Freebrough has achieved rates of 28pc and 32pc.

Given the flawed concept and the mass exodus of pupils from more affluent and parentally-concerned backgrounds, the teaching staff are to be congratulated. Think what they could have achieved had a "new state of the art" school been built centrally at Brotton in the first place. The money was there - the sale of Rosecroft and DeBrus sites would have more than paid for it. Middlesbrough has two new academies, both privately-funded. Redcar has one new school and another in the pipeline. East Cleveland children deserve nothing less and it is to the shame of councillors of all political persuasions that they did not get it in 2000AD.

T BRODRICK

Hird Avenue,

Bedale.

New tune

Sir, - The organ grinder and the monkey is an unfortunate expression used by the Mayor of Northallerton.

Like Mr Morris (D&S letters, Apr 30), I feel it is time we heard a new tune coming from the town hall council chambers. However do not lose sight of how important the monkey was to any organ grinder.

It was the monkey who drew the crowds and entertained and shook the tin for coppers. At the turn of the twentieth century, many owners and hirers of barrel pianos went out to entertain without a monkey only to find that people passed them by shouting "where's the monkey, you need a monkey?".

With no monkey to shake the tin for coppers, the organ grinder tried to do this as well as turning the instrument only to get completely out of time. People did not bother to listen or give money at all stating "you can get more sense from a monkey, than the organ grinder".

Short of cash, the organ grinder tried to do other jobs and the barrel piano and barrow quickly fell into disrepair and the organ grinder failed to turn up at many fairs and events. How he wished he had kept his monkey to help out and entertain.

Call me a monkey any day, I would rather be a monkey than a puppet although I do not like the many tunes from local government. I will squawk my objections, dance to the tune of common sense, and shake a tin for charity.

Coun JOHN COULSON

Registered organ grinder and county and district councillor

Crosby Road,

Northallerton.

Some respect

Sir, - Blair and New Labour have ignored the strongly expressed political views of the British people for seven years. Many of us in the North-East who are socialists or social democrats have the distinct feeling that New Labour takes our vote for granted, assuming that we will always vote Labour.

The people of this region voted Labour in the past because they thought it was the party which best represented their aspirations for greater equality, social justice and a respect for international law.

Unfortunately, the failure to follow these principles has led to increasing disillusionment and disappointment with New Labour. In the absence of a suitable alternative, many people have been reluctant to take part in a unsatisfactory electoral process.

Fortunately, there is now such an alternative. Respect - The Unity Coalition will be fielding candidates across the North-East in the forthcoming European elections on June 10.

Respect has been formed from those millions who campaigned against the war in Iraq, against wholesale privatisation of public services, and in defence of democracy and civil liberties.

Respect stands for those whose voices have been ignored in the corridors of power, the many who have given up voting, not because they are apathetic, but because no-one represents them. It stands for peace, equality and social justice.

Respect is calling for an end to the occupation of Iraq; an end to privatisation; free comprehensive education for all children from nursery to university; higher taxes for the rich, and pensions linked to average earnings.

Everyone in the NE has the opportunity, perhaps a one-off opportunity, to tell Blair that we will not be ignored any more.

YVONNE RIDLEY, YUNUS BAKHSH, DAVID STEWART

Respect candidates for the North-East, European Parliamentary Elections.