READING the story about the Halsall family going on an Atlantic trip, leaving in July 2008, and spending five months at sea annoyed me very much (Oxford Mail, July 19).

How is it that these children could be off school all that time when other parents, whose children miss school for a few days, are threatened with prison?

Even if Mrs Halsall is a teacher, her children should be in school where they belong, not going across the Atlantic.

It sounded like they were enjoying their holiday, with the children not getting much education.

What if all families decided to take their children out of school to go around the world. Would they also get away with it?

T DUNSDON, Templar Road, Oxford