Thinking not allowed

I agree entirely with the beginning of Dr Mynott's correspondence (Letters, 1 October).

Unfortunately, he then goes off at a tangent, possibly even on a rant, expressing his personal views on specific medical matters. This is exactly what so many managers do when faced with a problem and it simply means that just the symptoms get fixed rather than the problem.

As engineers, we should be asking why this happens. I suggest that the problem is that we are not taught — allowed, even — to think. this is a problem common to the whole of the 'civilised world' but it can be traced back to the education system. Schools cram facts into pupils because that is the easy way to teach to pass the essential examinations.

Up to when they begin school, children perpetually ask deeply-probing, philosophical questions. but, as they settle into school, and become brainwashed by the system, their questions are less and less probing. And very few ever recover from this 'education' system.

those that do have a really hard time as non-conformists, because they want things that are becoming unavailable. These include basic foodstuffs rather than Dr Mynott's apparent pet hate — processed foods.

The education system should be about encouraging its pupils to think and showing them how to investigate and research their concerns. Providing them with an education for life, in fact.

Brian Hammond

Lichfield, Staffs