He is wrong if he believes that this is a teacher’s only duty. They also have a duty to the overall intellectual development of their pupils and to promote their interests as individuals.

All good teachers at one time or another have given priority to these other two obligations over the obligation to secure good exam results. Any financial incentive which provides an inducement to the contrary is a corrupt practice. Mr Blunkett should be careful before he describes strike action as “daft”. For many honourable teachers the alternative is likely to be resignation.

Earl Russell History Department King’s College, Strand, London WC2