I enjoyed Mary Bousted’s article on Lev Vygotsky (“The great defender of the freedom to learn”, Comment, 8 November). It was good to see the leader of a major teaching union provoking thought on issues that go beyond pensions and pay. Perhaps other union leaders might follow her example? The more the unions take the lead on speaking about professional matters, the more teaching will be respected as a profession alongside - and even more important than - medicine and the law.

John Holman, Emeritus professor of chemistry, University of York.