• COMMENT

Christina Ho picks through a pile of wobbly statistics, purports that they reveal some grave social injustice, yet fails to propose any remedy ("Wealthy, gifted and talented: Selective schools favour the rich", March 10). Entry to academically selective schools is based on an entrance test. There is no other fair or practical method. The socioeconomic background of the child's parents is irrelevant. Tone-deaf children aren't offered places at the Conservatorium High; out-of-area children with minimal athletic ability are unlikely to gain a place at a sports high school. In any case, it's difficult to imagine how Ms Ho would rectify what she claims is a bias against the entry of "disadvantaged groups" to our selective schools. Must each child sitting the entry test first produce their parents' income tax returns?

• COMMENT

With International Women's Day this week, and girl-power icon Adele in town, it seems an appropriate time to turn our attention to women who know their way with words. With the ABC's kicking off the week with an all-female Q and A panel, it was suggested by a long-time letter writer, Robyn Dalziell of Castle Hill, that we follow suit, with an all-female letters page. "I note that women have  been well represented as SMH Letters Editors, possibly because the job is so difficult, I imagine. However, I recall that some years ago a previous editor, Jennie Curtin, took the bold step and quietly invited regular female contributors to write a letter of interest related to or directly from their experiences as women, as an acknowledgement of IWD."

• COMMENT

It seems Gladys Berejiklian is yet another of those politicians who believe in accountability for everyone else but themselves ("Premier was sent warning over $549m light-rail rise", March 9). Almost daily we read of MPs who rort the system, or in an effort to protect themselves, withhold vital information, mislead or deliberately lie to the public. Some of these instances would be deemed illegal outside of politics, and offenders charged. It is as if politicians are above the law, or licensed to exploit the taxpayer for personal gain. The major parties share the shame for allowing this disregard for morality and abuse of power to continue. Graham Lum North Rocks

• COMMENT

Dr Bronwyn Harmon of Elizabeth Cowan University says that Pauline Hanson's must have sourced her claim of "blackmail" from the anti-vaccination movement ("Anti-vaxxer network spurs online culture of supporters", Mar 8). I am pro-vaccination, and wouldn't vote for Hanson in a fit, but my thesaurus doesn't turn up a better word to describe "No Jab, No Pay", unless you resort to "coercion", "extortion" or "intimidation".

letters

• MARCH 7

. However, the fall in alcohol-related crime within the lockout zones still exceeds any crime displacement. In fact, with these latest statistics one might argue for extending the lockout zones.

• COMMENT

The State Government is reportedly planning a road tunnel to improve city access for northern beaches motorists ("Berejiklian hints at finally fixing notorious traffic snarl", March 4-5).   While applauding the willingness to address access to the rest of Sydney from this rapidly-growing area, I wonder if expansion of the road network is the best solution? Simultaneously, a new harbour crossing is also being planned for Sydney's metro rail network.  Why not build into this metro line the capability of expansion into a branch to the northern beaches?  Crossing the harbour has always been a bottleneck for previous rail proposals, so here is an opportunity to take full advantage of a major piece of infrastructure, and also slow down Sydney's growing dependence on private cars using increasingly clogged roads.

• March 5

How will the robot drivers be programmed to avoid jaywalking texters, ignore backseat drivers, respond to cries of children asking 'Are we there yet' and put coins in parking meters?

• MARCH 4

The debate over the race laws has put many people in the unaccustomed position of supporting Barnaby Joyce (" Christensen berates Joyce over race laws", March 3).  

There will be penalties paid once the dust settles on the Fair Work Commission's decision to cut Sunday pay rates for hospitality and retail workers – but judging from the passion the issue has generated among our readers, the most punishing ones will be political.

• COMMENT

To believe that Eric Abetz has finally found his heart is to believe that a bovine can really make a lunar leap.

• MARCH 2

Letter to the editor

• MARCH 1

I struggle to follow the logic, more money given via a tax cut will lead to wage rises.

• FEBRUARY 28

It now seems delusional to believe the Liberal Party is still able to comfortably accommodate the agendas of both its fiercely conservative right flank and its moderate, progressive centrists

• FEBRUARY 27

If John Howard had said three things to George Bush history might have been different.

• February 26

A just and enduring resolution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is critical and long overdue ("Blind support for Israel does it no favours", February 18-19).

• FEBRUARY 25

Do we have record low interest rates? Tick. Stagnant wages and chronic underpayment of workers? Definite tick. Added to that, wages for many actually will fall thanks to the Fair Work Commission decision on Sunday penalty rates ("Paying the penalty: thousands face wage cuts", February 24).

With Israeli PM [Benjamin] Netanyahu now in Australia, it appears that Australian political leaders are almost falling over themselves in professing their solidarity and affection for the the state of Israel.

• COMMENT

When the re-education camps are being built to handle the grammar miscreants, could an additional wing be added to the "fewer/less" cell blocks? This will house those who talk about "the amount of people here today". Yes, sports reporters for commercial TV stations, I'm talking about you. Come the revolution we have a list and your names are at the top.     Ian Morris 116 Homebush Rd Strathfield   

• COMMENT

As a former manager of English for the NSW Department of Education and a passionate English teacher for over 30 years,  I welcome the continuing affirmation of the joy and power of the English language in the new Stage 6 English Syllabus.

 As a lesbian Jew I share Michael Danby's approval of Israel's gay pride march and its thriving democracy.

• February 22

Those of a certain age will recall all too vividly when the concept of matriculation was dumped unceremoniously in the1960s.

• FEBRUARY 19

Some politicians are heartbroken they are losing their gold pass. I feel your pain.

• February 21

The damaging impacts of coal mining activity on land and water are anything but clean.

• February 20

Thank you, Fairfax, for implicating sugar in Australia's obesity problem, but it's a mistake to think that a tax on sugar will solve the problem. It just isn't that simple.

• FEBRUARY 18

Religious education is properly the province of a child's parents, not the state, and it is entirely inappropriate that the State should intrude.

It’s not that easy to get a letter published in the Herald, but things could be worse.

As a sign of how much readers care about dear old Granny, it was heartening to see the strong response to Alan Stokes' column which canvassed a new way of customising and consuming the Herald. Not that the idea received much endorsement.

• COMMENT

If we have to have scripture classes make it about comparative religions, taught by qualified teachers.