Debt Panel’s suggestions are truly helpful

A reader says the debt panel's suggestions are helpful. Other topics: behaviour, schools

A reader has praise for the Debt Panel because it offers valuable tips. Mona Al Marzooqi / The National

I am a big fan of the Debt Panel. I use it as a knowledge base (Debt Panel helps ease personal debt stigma in UAE, May 16). I am thankfully not in debt and had started reading frugality columns and have been reading the debt column religiously since it launched.

I grew up surrounded by people in debt and vowed never to fall into this trap, and the Debt Panel provides more locally appropriate lessons I can use to pass on to those I love.

Thank you for this awareness panel you have created as most things that people feel are out of their control are not so.

All the best and please keep doing what you do.

Name withheld by request

All youngsters are the same

I refer to the article Authorities and parents warn young Emiratis over 'offensive' viral dance craze (May 7). My daughter showed me the video. It was just boys having fun. I found it funny and I thought it was creative. They were trying to create a viral dance craze of their own like the Whip Nae Nae, or something like that.

Sara Smith, Dubai

This may sound naive on my part, but are people aware that young people will be young people the world over and do wild silly and crazy things? Like us, they will all grow out of it and become responsible adults.

If young people are enveloped in rules upon rules, they will develop a tendency to push boundaries even further.

This behaviour is part of growing up and a path to becoming an adult.

Tanya Milbourne, Dubai

Schools are run commercially

Nearly all schools here are for-profit and run as businesses by business people (Schools are run like businesses, May 10). I've taught here for seven years and have seen the change.

Gill Dow, Abu Dhabi

This obsession with western teachers has to stop as well. The British national curriculum is getting outdated with no changes in sight. Thus, why should teachers of that curriculum be sought after?

Unaiza Nizami, Dubai

Teachers are being deprived of their perks, including housing, tickets to their home countries each year and so on.

So this is not about the teaching staff. It’s about schools making a profit. Many schools lack resources, which teachers must pay for themselves (printers, staplers, technology that doesn’t work – you name it). This is a complete joke and an insult to all teachers.

Chika Marie, Dubai

Cricketers today are different

The Australian cricketers’ mutiny on the eve of the Ashes series was tantamount to greed and holding their board to ransom.

Cricketers are handsomely rewarded for playing tournaments and matches, especially the IPL.

Many former cricketers cannot believe the net worth of some of their present counterparts.

In the past, players represented their countries passionately with little reward, and they regarded wearing their national badges as an honour.

Once English players, who were on a trip to Australia, hurriedly returned to serve in the army when war broke out. That was patriotism.

Today’s players are different. I wonder whether they deserve as much respect.

AR Modak, South Africa