LARGE numbers of teachers are suffering from stress, anxiety and depression (Echo Comment, Oct 4) and the cause of these problems is poor pupil behaviour, according to the unions.

Many teachers are frequently faced with verbal and physical aggression and huge numbers of them take a lot of time off because they can’t face the endless classroom hostility.

Their absence then puts additional stress on the teachers who soldier on. This situation has been a problem for many years but, mystifyingly, examination results keep on improving year after year.

Can anyone explain why demoralised teachers and disruptive pupils don’t have an adverse effect on exam results?

Jim Allan, Hartlepool.