Children have now started their Easter school holidays.

I noted in a national daily that many children take their holidays during term time. This, I know, is due to the fact that holidays taken during term time are much cheaper.

In order to correct this scandal, I suggest that parents be charged the difference in the cost of holidays taken during term and during holidays.

In addition, I suggest that parents pay an additional penalty of £200 per day for each child absent from school.

After all, children get at least 16 weeks holiday during the year, which includes five ‘Baker’ days per term. This is markedly more than their counterparts get in Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong.

I feel that children have too many rights and I feel that, so they learn to respect their elders and other people’s property, these rights should be much reduced or withdrawn altogether.

I think that this should redress the balance.

David Forrester

Trehill Road, Ivybridge