How sad that the Guardian seems to be competing now with other London publications to become the last bastion of English colonial rule. Your article (Welsh-only teaching – a political tool that harms children?, 20 June) attacks Llangennech school in Wales for having the temerity to teach pupils through the medium of Welsh. Throughout the rest of the world, multilingualism is the norm, but the rump British empire does not seem to be able to get its head around the fact that anyone could possibly use any language other than English as a means of education. The facts in Wales are simple. Those who have received their education primarily through the medium of Welsh become fully bilingual and have access to their cultural heritage, are able to work in both languages and receive all the benefits of bilingualism and, for many, multilingualism. Those who are in English-medium education (still the majority) are deprived of all these cultural, social and economic benefits for the sake of anti-Welsh dogma as apparently supported by the Guardian.

Ffred Ffransis

Llanfihangel-ar-arth, Carmarthenshire

• It seems it is not only the Tories and the DUP that are attempting to draw us back to the 1950s. More than half the world’s population is bilingual – it is the norm. There are numerous studies that prove the advantages of a bilingual brain. Children learn languages easily. Wales is a bilingual country. Immersion works. What modern, responsible education authority would not provide the means for its pupils to become easily and fully bilingual at a young age? It is an attribute that not only aids cognitive development, but also improves employment opportunities in Wales, as well as opening the door to a fabulous cultural inheritance. You gave disproportionate attention to one family’s grievances in your article. A significant factor in any child’s educational achievement and attitude to school is the parents’ positive encouragement and support. Need I say more?

Elen Huws

Penygroes, Gwynedd

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