HOW I agree with Robert Readman (Have Your Say) regarding poor numeracy among teenagers.

I spent many years running pubs, and myself and my staff had no problem adding up a round of a dozen or so drinks in our heads while talking and smiling.

Nowadays if they get an order for two pints or a gin and tonic, they have to add it up on the till.

I attended a standard state school in Poole, which I left at the age of 15, and I have never been to college or university.

Class sizes were around 40 pupils, yet the teachers were able to turn out well-educated and well-disciplined children.

All this without the aid of computers or classroom assistants.

So what has gone wrong?

GRAHAM CRIBB, Branksome Wood Road, Bournemouth