SCHOOL CLOSURES: THE list of Durham schools to close has been compiled after a study into the declining birth rate (Echo, June 6).

But it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. If parents see their local school on the list of closures, they may well regard it as an indicator that the school is in some way "sub-standard" - despite the fact that it is not - and move their child away.

I implore readers to support all of the schools affected by this report.

A single child moved from the community that has nurtured it will experience displacement, upheaval, confusion and fear.

When an entire school closes, the children will not be absorbed into one other school. Instead they will be scattered around the "available" spaces in other schools.

In many areas the closure of schools has had significant negative impact upon the surrounding community. It is a contributing factor to the social decline of many villages and small towns across the country.

I commend the Government's strategy for creating beacon schools - but not at the expense of the closure of schools with proven track records and a definite place within the local community.

I hope our Sedgefield MP will show his commitment to the future of, "education, education, education" by responding to this letter.

It is essential for us to defend the schools we each represent, and in doing so defend the way our children are educated. Schools are kept open only by parents (and interested parties) campaigning against poor value judgements, based upon spurious statistical reports, made by people who allegedly represent our "best interests". - Name and address supplied, County Durham.

COUNCILLOR Chris Foote Wood says that the closure of Dene Valley and Eldon Lane schools will "be devastating for the former pit villages" (Echo, June 16). I quite agree.

Then he says the schools provide a breakfast club for the children. To put the record straight, it is the Dene Valley Community Partnership, with a community food grant from Health Development for Easington, and help from Tarka the new opportunities fund, which organises the breakfast club. The schools play no part. They have, though, benefited as the level of truancy has reduced.

Many of us rely on this service and without the help and support of the Dene Valley Community Partnership and the Children in the Community officer, it would not be available for us and our children. - L Cleasby, Eldon, Bishop Auckland.

MARJORIE JOHNSON

ON READING of the passing away of Marjorie Johnson of Harrogate (Echo, June 11), I had to write in remembrance of a remarkable lady.

I met Marjorie and her husband when they read in The Northern Echo about the problems we were having with the abuse of fireworks. There are about 50 campaigners in the country and Marjorie and I were invited to the Commons Portcullis House to express our concerns and to hand over many thousands of signatures.

A Bill going through Parliament tells us there will be modifications to the noise and the times of selling.

Marjorie will be remembered for her talks with Euro MP David Bowe, and her sheer determination greatly strengthened our case. She will be sadly missed. - Councillor Pearl Hall, Redcar and Cleveland.

NORTH-EAST ART

I WOULD like to agree with art critic Brian Sewell's barbed comments about the North-East (HAS, June 12).

I find his comments entertaining and, as an artist in the Cleveland area, I wish that The Northern Echo took more interest in other places besides Newcastle.

He is right: many of our railway stations - vastly in need of a makeover - do look eastern European, and Middlesbrough itself is "a sight".

The Angel of the North means what? Antony Gormley was creating the same structures on a smaller scale back in the early 1980s.

Just because something is said to be good does not mean that it is - try thinking for yourself. - Martin Smith, Guisborough.

BBC LOOK NORTH

SURELY the BBC can come up with a better opening sequence for the Look North news programme. The present clip shows kids kicking a ball against a wall, a train station, a dull and windy day at the seaside, a windfarm, some windswept ramblers and what looks like a case of child cruelty involving children paddling in a lake in almost Arctic conditions. The whole thing is filmed in a sort of sunless monochrome to add to the dismal effect. It's hardly the sort of feature to make people think they'd like to come here is it? It reminds me of a 1960s Soviet Union travel advert and it doesn't do the North any favours. - Paul Deakin, Shildon.

GAY BISHOP

MANY of those Christians who spoke out against the appointment of women priests are now protesting against the appointment of a homosexual Bishop. Yet why weren't they equally outspoken when it came to heterosexual male priests sexually abusing children? - HE Smith, Spennymoor.

LOOKALIKE

I THINK the image on the £1,000 Alderney gold coin, issued to mark Prince William's 21st birthday (Echo, June 21) looks more like the actor Alistair Sim in a wig than His Royal Highness. - Geoff Howe, Darlington.