* On the one hand, a survey reports 10 per cent of secondary schools have caught pupils bringing guns into the classroom and more than 40 per cent said that pupils carried knives in their schools, while others reported incidents involving axes, metal bars and even home-made bombs (TES, April 4).
On the other hand, an agency specialising in teacher recruitment (survey conducted by Select Education) has found 60 per cent of UK schools have one or more permanent vacancies. Are these variables causally related? Discuss.
Penelope J Law
7 Bridge Lane
Battersea
London SW11
