Sir, Citizenship in schools should be about encouraging young people to develop an understanding and awareness of their community and the way in which society works. Repeating an oath in a chant-like fashion is not the best way to engage, encourage and develop a sense of belonging (report, March 11). What we need to see is more “practical” citizenship; allow young people to vote at 16, make space in the timetable for pupils to undertake voluntary work and loosen the red tape so that it is easier for teachers to take pupils on visits to Parliament, the courts, the European Parliament and the UN.

C. Healy
Former Citizenship teacher
London SW8

Sir, Bardia Khajenoori (letter, March 13) is indeed fortunate to attend an American school where students are given the option of refraining from taking the oath of allegiance. My nephew, a British citizen temporarily living in New York because of his father’s job, demurred and was told in no uncertain terms that the oath was an obligation for all students, without exception.

Chris Holloway
Bristol

Sir, A way to highlight Britain’s identity is to return to addressing it as Britain, rather than what has become the norm, the UK. Some may feel that the abbreviation is modern and global, but in reality it has more of the air of a bland company logo than the name of a country with an unique culture and long history.

Michael W. Painter
Chandler’s Ford, Hants

Sir, Surely the proposal that schoolchildren should take an oath of allegiance and salute the Union Flag applies only to England as school activities are devolved to the other nations of the UK.

In Scotland they would doubtlessly want to recite the Declaration of Arbroath and salute the Saltire. It might be said that the Scots get free university education, old age homes etc; the Welsh get free prescriptions and hospital car parks; the English get free lessons in how to be British and pay for it all.

Don Beadle
Gosport,Hants

Sir, There are many republicans in England who would willingly swear allegiance to the country but not to the Queen or King.

R. V. Kentsley
Hartland, Devon

Sir, An oath of allegiance is probably a waste of time. You don’t have to be religious or a royalist to have pride in Britain, but I would think a knowledge of its history and place in the modern world are essential.

Ann Aves
Scone, Perth

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