Sir, You will no doubt have seen a certain amount of vitriol displayed by some former Labour Ministers towards the Prince of Wales for suggesting, some time ago, that the number of grammar schools in England should be increased.
There is more to this than is immediately apparent. The comprehensive system was introduced to “level” society and was, I am sure, well intentioned. But let us look back to what was lost. On my arrival in Dundee in 1965 the Scottish system of junior and senior secondaries was still in full force. So I had the privilege of training in two junior secondaries. I worked in several others. The schools were excellent.
I noticed in particular the encouragement, given by all teachers to the most capable of their pupils, that they should go on, after fourth year, to a senior secondary to complete their highers. And then I saw many such pupils go on to university and thence to enormously successful and productive lives. But that is not the end of the story. Those who were less successful in academia went out into the world as well-trained people, eager to earn a living or “serve their time” as an apprentice.
At present we are screaming out for well-qualified tradesmen. Most of us know valued tradesmen who supply unbelievable expertise and standards of work. The junior secondaries were the deepest well from which such people came. The Labour conviction that 50% of school leavers should go to university has done little for the students concerned and not a great deal for many of the newest universities. Britain, including Scotland, faces with embarrassment its rapidly declining educational standards compared to most of the rest of the world.
Dare we re-examine the question of education, which is not a tool for social manipulation but a vital building brick of any civilisation?
Robert Lightband. Clepington Court, Dundee.
That annual invasion is here again
Sir, I see we have the invasion of caravans in our midst yet again. This has been an annual event for a number of years with the same problems each time.
They set up on any area that takes their fancy, without permission, and the owner of the area has to go to court to have them removed. Surely this has to be a great injustice to the owner?
What I and I suppose many other Dundee citizens would like to know is, when are the authorities going to take a proactive role in dealing with this problem?
Surely the sites could be inspected each day to ensure mountains of rubbish and filth are not building up, because each time these people leave an area we learn that it will cost thousands of pounds to clear up the mess left behind by them.
The other thing that springs to mind is the fact that Dundee people must be giving them work to do, otherwise they would not keep coming back. So, to my mind, everybody who does this is contributing to the amount of the clean-up costs we will face.
June Reid. 12 Findhorn Street, Fintry, Dundee.
Cricket, too well done, Jim
Sir, I always enjoy Jim Crumley, well, nearly always. There are times I have shaken my head and moved on to the Craigie Column.
In Tuesday’s Courier, however, he excelled himself. I know how much he loves nature but to also love cricket, and test match cricket at that, is first class. I will now imagine Jim in the Highlands somewhere listening to Test Match Special as he surveys the beautiful scenery before him!
Derek Shaw. 17 The Logan, Liff, Dundee.
A day to be proud of
Sir, Re This was not one of Scotland’s finest hours (letters, July 1). What a difference a day makes! I, too, went to Bannockburn Live with my family on the Sunday and I can truly say it was a fine day for Scotland.
We arrived about 11am, an hour after it opened, and got into the car park without any trouble. There was no queuing to get through the gate.
The longest we had to wait for food or drinks was 10 minutes; there were eight food outlets, all excellent locally sourced food; a coffee stall; two ice cream vans, I think, and two large bar areas. We never had to queue for toilets.
We waited 30 minutes for the battle re enactment which was fine as the sun was out and we blethered to others in the queue. The performance was great, all the performers giving it their all. It was informative, but also action packed to appeal to youngsters. The children around us loved it.
There were excellent speakers and performers,clan chiefs, genealogy experts, something for just about everybody, including the foreign tourists I spoke to who were having a great time.
The whole atmosphere of the day was very relaxed and family orientated. A day to be proud of.
Christina Oliver. Arbirlot Road, Arbroath.