Jobless youngsters should give teaching a try | Brief letters

As a member of a privileged generation when jobs were plentiful, my heart goes out to young people who can’t find a job (Record number of young people fear long-term unemployment, 12 June). But everyone knows there’s a shortage of teachers. Why don’t some of them try that?

It’s hard work, but potentially rewarding. And much better than sitting at home feeling miserable and failing to get interviews. Ruth Brandon London • I was reluctant to join a book group because of a dislike of being told what to read (Letters, 12 June).

Our “book chat” solves this problem. We bring along what each of us has enjoyed reading recently. This way, I have discovered new reading delights – Elizabeth Strout, Henry Marsh and many more – without a sense of doing dutiful homework.

David Hockney’s “End bossiness soon” campaign would approve of this approach. Clare Addison Oxford • Since the cash-strapped Ministry of Defence pays over £2,000 each for bearskin caps for the hundreds of guards on parade at trooping the colour, might I suggest that hundreds of thousands of pounds might be saved by adopting a cheaper alternative, possibly David Hockney-style flat caps? Toby Wood Peterborough • Roy Hattersley (Obituary, 14 June) once noted that, without changing his political position or beliefs, he had over time gone from being described as rightwing to being described as leftwing.

Perhaps he’d be hard-left in the current climate. Alan Pearson Broadbottom, Greater Manchester • Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.