SIR — I have no knowledge of Stephen Parnell's other abilities as a teacher but I cannot defend his technique for 'developing a relationship' with a student if it involves encouraging and laughing at racist and offensive language. This would appear to have been no affectionate colloquial reference to someone's country of origin but an exchange of jokes based on the death and discomfort of black and Asian people. Teachers have a responsibility to condemn such attitudes in their students; they should be encouraging them to develop their awareness and conscience about global poverty and injustice, as so many young people did this week in Hyde Park, Edinburgh and all over the world. Jill Walmsley, Minehead.