Graeme Martin's letter (The Weekend Sun, September 13) urging everyone to pull their weight is a fair and decent request. However, his suggestion that those without tertiary education will be a burden on society and destined for failure is not only downright stupid, it risks huge damage to the confidence, hopes and future of the many young ones, who for whatever reason don't or haven't done very well at school.
Graeme should have a good look around and he will discover how many innovative, motivated, inspirational and successful people failed at secondary school, let alone didn't get tertiary education.
Many of us who failed dismally at school discovered when entering the workforce we were great workers and quickly became highly valued. As a young, uneducated worker I was often fascinated at the number of university students doing holiday jobs that were lazy and useless.
It is not all about education it is more about motivation, determination and making good decisions.
A friend who was in the slow learners' class in high school tells me how their class still gets together from time to time and all but one owns their own house. And many, like him, have been very successful.
So for those who aren't or haven't done so well at school don't take too much notice of Graeme's negativity. But you may just need to work that little bit harder than the so-called educated ones to achieve your goals.
We all know education is necessary for many careers, however to spend too much time in education is slothfulness, as education must have an end in view for it is not an end itself.
If Graeme thinks all those working hard at many jobs that don't require higher education are going nowhere obviously he's still got a lot to learn himself.

M Kirkham, Whakamarama.