SIR — We read your reports 'Teacher banned for racist jokes' and 'School answers banned teacher's criticisms' with interest. We also read subsequent readers' responses to the articles with even more interest. We say more interest for three reasons. Firstly, it would seem that attitude towards racial discrimination has not changed a lot in Somerset despite our very robust race laws and the concerted efforts of many who are trying to make Somerset safer for all races to work, live and play. That Somerset is the eighth most likely place to be racially harassed in the UK is certainly not something to be proud of. Secondly, the assumption that political correctness is what drove the action against Stephen Parnell is absurd. Mr Parnell's racist remarks or jokes, even as you reported them, are not "trivial" at all. Paki or Paddy is not a term of endearment, as Joe Blackwell would have us believe. Mr Rushforth does not think they are. Mr Bailey does not think that they are. The General Teaching Council certainly do not think that they are. Furthermore, "...a racist incident is an incident which a victim or a witness to that incident regards as a racist incident". It does not matter what the likes of Mr Blackwell think. This is why we strongly endorse the way that Paul Rushforth has dealt with a difficult matter that most schools would ignore for fear of this type of reprisal. Minehead Middle School is a better place for Mr Rushforth's action; he should be commended not criticised. Finally, the issue of whether or not Mr Parnell is a good teacher should not come into it at all. Likewise, his intentions whatever they are, are also irrelevant. We doubt, going by the pages of the Free Press, that Mr Parnell understands that he has been teaching our children how to discriminate. He must not be allowed to teach until he does. David Onamade, Director, Somerset Racial Equality Council.
