Sir, – I clearly remember an episode from Dr Finlay’s Casebook, probably in the 60s, when young Finlay, played by Bill Simpson, had a number of ideas for improving the practice.
He was stopped in his tracks by Dr Cameron, played by Andrew Cruickshank, who simply said “man Finlay, it’s people you’re dealing with”.
I believe that the people making up the above rules would do well to remember that.
Their rules, often delivered in an authoritative manner, are sometimes ill conceived, patently unfair, and totally unworkable. (Has anyone checked to see if all the pubs are obeying the rules?).
I cannot believe that a student who has made it to university is being threatened with a fine or even expulsion.
In my experience, you do not get the best out of young people by using threats. Understanding and sharing their concerns should be the way forward.
W M Young.
Elgin Gardens,
Dundee.
Students haven’t had credit they deserve
Sir, – We should admire Jim Spence’s ability not to let the facts get in the way of a good rant (Someone should pay for Stalinist treatment of students by Scotland’s government and universities, Courier, September 29).
On both sides of the Tay however, our universities tend to regard students as responsible adults, preferring the language of partnership to that of dictat.
In St Andrews, we asked our students to observe entirely voluntary restrictions on going to the pub over the last two weekends. We did not lock them down, nor threaten them.
The student community responded maturely, and in a largely selfless and socially responsible way, and have not yet had the credit they deserve for that. We are asking a great deal of Scotland’s students to forego the rites of passage and traditional experiences of university life, even for a short while, for the good of the wider public.
We are all in this together. If we resort to the polarising language of blame when we have to make difficult asks of each other, only Covid will win.
Niall Scott.
Director of communications,
University of St Andrews.
Scotland not trusted to forge own destiny
Sir, – A two-pronged attack on Scotland’s economic viability on September 29 from Dr Cameron and Donald Lewis.
Their issues have been refuted by others, so I will just pose some questions for the learned gentlemen.
Scotland’s economy has been primarily managed by Westminster for generations, so why is the responsibility for allegedly poor performance laid at Scotland’s door?
Oil was found in Scottish and Norwegian waters in roughly similar quantities at roughly the same time.
Scotland’s oil is dealt with in London, and Scotland is an economic basket case, while independent Norway is now rich beyond our wildest dreams. How come?
It is generally accepted that Brexit will be disastrous for the UK economy.
Scotland voted clearly, and in all parts, against Brexit, yet will have to suffer the consequences. Is this fair?
If we look around Europe there are many small and medium sized nations doing very well, yet the people of Scotland are not to be trusted to forge their own destiny.
Why not?
Sixty-three countries have left the British Empire or the UK over the years, and not a single one, so far as I am aware, has begged back.
Is Scotland unique in the world of being incapable of managing its own affairs?
Les Mackay.
Carmichael Gardens, Dundee.
When will face mask wearing be enforced?
Sir, – Much is being made of the need to wear face masks if you are entering supermarkets, shopping malls and shops.
If one enters the Kingdom Centre, Glenrothes, and the Overgate, Dundee, the large number of persons ignoring this requirement makes a farce of it. When is something going to be done to enforce this requirement?
Allan Murray.
Napier Road,
Glenrothes.
