Why minds don't meet

Jon Nixon asks why academics are "not guiding their personal tutees on at least a weekly basis through the intricacies of academic choice and those relating to social well-being" (Letters, 7 April). Perhaps because those tutees are responsible adults at universities, not infants in nurseries? Because meeting all tutees individually at least weekly would leave many lecturers with no time to teach?

He also asks if research publications are "of such momentous importance that (academics) can pay such scant regard to their personal tutees". Does he know that many are contractually required to publish and may face redundancy if they don't? It is ironic that Nixon calls himself "an independent scholar": his model kills independence and genuine scholarship.

Neil Badmington, Penarth