RECENT reports indicating that our schools are under considerable pressure make for uncomfortable reading. I think that part of the problem is that there simply are not the levels of support which I benefited from as a young teacher.

So what should be done? The Scottish Government should reintroduce a national staffing standard and remove the present inconsistencies between local education authorities (LEA)s. When I started teaching in the early 1970s there was such a standard contained in what was known as The Red Book, prepared by the then HMI. This established a national minimum standard for secondary schools based on the Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR). There were then calculations for each individual school to establish additional staffing entitlements, for the number of probationer teachers for example. These elements were added to the basic complement and this gave the school’s final staffing that was funded nationally. It was open to individual LEAs to fund additional staff if they so wished. A new Red Book could now be prepared with entitlements such as for deprivation and included pupils. The lack of guaranteed, dedicated staff supporting these pupils with learning difficulties is putting schools under considerable pressure.

The restructuring of promoted posts in secondary schools has seen principal teachers, the key subject specialists, replaced by faculty heads. It is quite clear that this restructuring was for financial savings; it certainly was not as a consequence of an analysis of the relative educational merits of the respective posts. We now have faculty heads with responsibility for a group of subject departments - for the members of these departments, the quality of their teaching, the curriculum, staff development needs, discipline, pupil welfare, parental links, assessment, the required resources, the internal and external SQA exam requirements. The faculty heads meanwhile may only be qualified to teach one of the subjects for which they are responsible. This has meant a loss of crucial subject expertise and experience. In addition, the principal teachers, as key middle managers, played an absolutely vital part in the effective running of the school. I know from experience the value of their advice, support and guidance. I feel strongly that the loss of these posts cannot be helping the academic performance nor the discipline of Scotland’s secondary schools. Furthermore, the marked reduction in promoted posts seriously restricts career development and must be a disincentive for recruitment.

Finally, I would reintroduce LEA subject advisers. I was fortunate in my early years of teaching to have the support of a team of specialist subject advisers. These were experienced teachers who were either in permanent posts or on secondment. They offered advice, encouragement, support and took a real care for the teachers of their particular subject/subjects. They were also well placed to give expert advice to the Education Directorate and to the Education Committee. I feel at such a challenging time, advisers could play a crucial supporting role both for schools and LEAs.

Eric Melvin, Edinburgh.

Read more: When will people realise that SNP talk is meaningless?

The golden generation

I HAVE just heard that Alistair Darling has died. He is rightly credited for steering the UK out of the 2008 financial crash and leading the cross-party Better Together campaign, but he was also one of a golden generation of Scottish politicians that included John Smith, George Robertson, Michael Forsyth, Malcolm Rifkind, Robin Cook, David Steel and Gordon Brown, real heavyweights who occupied the most senior positions in UK politics.

Perhaps if they'd all been in favour of independence it would have been a different story.

As the song goes "when will we see their likes again"?

Allan Sutherland, Stonehaven.

Remembering Labour neglect

HANK you for the "Remember When" photo of Margo MacDonald and renowned folk singer Alastair MacDonald, taken during the February 1974 General Election campaign (The Herald, November 30). I don't remember seeing that photo before. Margo had only been Govan's MP since the previous November, but she had already made a positive difference to her constituents. At the General Election, her seat suffered from boundary changes and although the SNP won seven seats across Scotland, sadly Margo narrowly lost Govan, and Govan lost a champion.

I campaigned in Govan both at the by-election and during the General Election campaign. The housing conditions were amongst the worst I'd seen in Glasgow; stinking, damp, crumbling tenements, many without baths or inside toilets, and children with hacking coughs. The Labour Party had years in power at George Square and Westminster, and I will never forgive them for their inaction and neglect which saw people condemned to live in horrendous housing conditions in Govan, Gorbals, Shettleston, Calton and several other districts of Glasgow. In her short time as Govan's MP, Margo dealt with around 900 housing complaints, and not a Labour councillor in sight.

Ruth Marr, Stirling.

 

The Herald: Nicola Sturgeon giving a Covid briefingNicola Sturgeon giving a Covid briefing (Image: Scottish Government/PA)

Sturgeon the narcissist

AS I read Frances Scott’s letter (November 30) I asked myself if there are two Nicola Sturgeons. Because I certainly never saw the paragon of virtue during Covid lockdown seen by Ms Scott.

I saw a narcissist, aping the policies of the UK Government, stand daily at the lectern immaculate of couture and coiffure lecturing and haranguing us as we were clearly not of the required level of intellect to understand for ourselves.

I saw an arrogant short-tempered politician treat media with rudeness and contempt daring, actually daring, to ask her questions.

I saw a political opportunist turning Covid to her own advantage. As BBC’s Sarah Smith put it, and was vilified to the point of resigning, Ms Sturgeon had “a good covid”.

I could say would the real Nicola Sturgeon please stand up but I’m content she remain fading into obscurity.

Her retirement is well deserved - by us.

Alasdair Sampson, Stewarton.

Give the Marbles back

AH, the Elgin Marbles, the ultimate version of "Finders Keepers", played by a decaying UK Government led by a philistine ("Greece disagrees on claims it broke Marbles assurances", The Herald, November 29). They were removed by the Earl of Elgin, ambassador to Turkey, over a period of 10 years in the early 1800s. Hacked to size for shipping purposes, their treatment at the hands of the British Museum included a damaging covering of soot and dirt caused by pollution in Victorian London, and a disastrous restoration in the 1930s when abrasive methods were used to "restore" the marble to its original white shade, clearing the natural patina off, along with the detailing. More recent vandalism at the museum has included knocking off a centaur’s leg, graffiti scratched onto surfaces, and an unfortunate falling skylight chipping a figure. No wonder Greece wants them back.

Since Greece achieved independence in 1835, they have pleaded for the return of a major part of their cultural heritage. There is now a purpose-built museum in Athens waiting to house the friezes. Elgin paid nothing for the Marbles, though he bribed many officials of the Ottoman Empire in order to remove them. He sold his collection to the British Government, but even it questioned whether they were acquired legally.

In polls, it is clear that the British public no longer care where the marbles are kept. Flights to Athens are plentiful and cheap, London is an expensive destination for many. The British Museum has so many treasures that it is unable to keep track of its bounty. It is time to lose our imperialist mindset, and learn to play the game with fellow European countries.

Frances Scott, Edinburgh.

Read more: SNP has a record to be proud of. With indy it could do even better

Contempt for human rights

THE world's media will no doubt be marking Henry Kissinger's death in tones of solemn respect. It's just too bad Christopher Hitchens didn't live to see it, as he was relentless in reminding people of Kissinger's responsibility for crimes against humanity in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Chile.

Indeed in circumstances which appear worryingly parallel to today's situation in Gaza, Kissinger ignored his National Security Council deputy Viron Vaky who argued that overthrowing the Chilean government of Salvador Allende would be "patently a violation of our own principles". He also apologised to Pinochet's foreign minister for human rights being on the agenda of a meeting, saying that the State Department was full of people with a vocation for the ministry but "there were not enough churches for them so they all joined the State Department".

This contempt for human rights and genuine diplomacy is all too evident in the way the West conducts itself today.

In an independent Scotland we could revive the idea of an ethical foreign policy as the late, great Robin Cook once attempted to introduce in the early days of New Labour. Sadly the spirit of Kissinger lives on in the behaviour of Biden, Blinken and the wannabe Blair.

Marjorie Ellis Thompson, Edinburgh.