Don't target all teens; yourletters.

Byline: FIONA PARKER

IT'S a bad idea to make all teenagers do community service. My 17-year-old son goes to college full-time as well as holding down a part-time job.

How would he have time to do community service? And he's certainly not in need of extra discipline. He has been brought up in a hard-working family, knows right from wrong and does not expect to live off the state.

How about making layabouts do community service instead? I won't allow my son to be included in this scheme and I'm sure that other parents of teenagers in his position would agree.

A Butler, Walsall, W Mids

WHY should all teenagers be forced to do 50 hours of commua nity work? We teenagers have enough pressure with exams, going to college or university, or trying to find work.

This will be just one more thing to worry about. Not all teenagers are trouble- makers so why punish us all for the bad behaviour of a few?

Georgia Webb, Bristol

THE idea of kids doing community work is a superb one, as it will give them self-respect.

Some teenagers are treading a fine line and could go the wrong way. This would point them in the right direction because they'd be given an incentive and feel that they're worth something.

There simply aren't enough facilities for children today and, sadly, too many of them are getting into trouble.

If we respect our children, then they will respect us.

Rosemary Allendar St Helens, Merseyside 

THE headline 50 Hours Community Work For Every Teen looks good but the substance is less attractive - 50 hours to be carried out between the ages of 14 and 19. Such scheme would be a positive move and help get teens off the streets if it were over a shorter period but this is ridiculous.

Why don't we make it compulsory for those on benefits to carry out work in order to qualify for handouts? D Pithie, Birmingham

A NATIONAL Service-style programme wouldn't "demonise" youths, it would deter youngsters from becoming involved in the bad behaviour so prevalent in society.

And, make no mistake, a national programme on how to behave acceptably is needed to offset the failure of society to address the problem.

Too many youths today lack a basic sense of responsibility.

We can't just blame bad parenting or schooling and then do nothing - it's too late for that.

Richard Stewart, Birmingham

The BIG issue

TEENAGERS could be made to do 50 hours' unpaid community work under new proposals from Gordon Brown. All 14 to 19-year-olds will help in old people's homes, pick up litter or do charity work.

You have mixed views on the so-called Lads' Army...