ONE would naturally think that it would be beneficial for parents to have a choice as to which school to send their children to, but it's strange how matters develop when the choice is so open.
In Edinburgh, and I am sure this could also apply to other cities, some of the local schools are in danger of being closed as children from these communities attend schools in other areas of the city – not private schools though but Council-run schoo
ls.
Why does this happen? There are various reasons. Parents get to know that some schools have a better reputation than others. They hear this from friends or work colleagues, or from statistics published in the media, and from HMI reports.
As well as that, if parents are working, as they often are, it might be more convenient for them to drop their children at a school near their place of work, and to pick them up from there at the end of the day. It is reported that the situation in Edinburgh is worse than anywhere else in Scotland.
There is one primary school in the city where only one out of every six pupils reside in the local area. It is quite clear from government policy that if there is space in a school, they cannot refuse a child a place, even if the child doesn't live in their catchment area.
We can support the matter of parental choice of schooling, but how can the education authorities plan school education for the future when there is no assumption that children will attend a local school? It is a very difficult matter to resolve.
Before long, city primary schools will become full-time childcare centres, as already some pupils arrive for a breakfast club and leave from an after-school club. Changed days and changed activities for today's children, and who knows where the trend will end.
Will new schools of the future have to be built close to main office buildings for family convenience? And what will become of communities when there is no school left to provide residents with recreational or meeting facilities after hours when they are generally needed?
Mobile phones and bullying
Still on the subject of schools, it is clear that as soon as technological developments come our way, they bring their own problems. Bullying was always a problem in schools – children threatening each other or assaulting each other, and indeed it was not an easy problem to eliminate. However, it now appears that it is with 'cyber bullies' that Head Teachers need to deal.
A Uist-born gentleman who is well known to us in the city and who is Head Teacher at Liberton High School, is now leading a working group set up by the Council to try and find effective ways of dealing with these problems, demonstrated in the misuse of mobile phones where pupils send offensive messages to each other by text, MSN etc.
Not long ago, we heard of pupils in England taking pictures of pupils – and on occasions teachers – being beaten up and the images broadcast on the internet, supposedly for fun.
We wish Donald John and his team well with their endeavours. The problem is that even if they manage to stop the misuse of mobile phones in school (and don't forget, some pupils use them profitably e.g. as calculators) the bullying problem can be continued outwith school.
No matter how useful mobiles and computers are, there are always some who find means of misusing the equipment, and thus spoiling it for those who make good use of them.
Best wishes,
Siarach
Future events:
Saturday 10.05.08 – 7.30pm Edinburgh Caithness Assoc. buffet/ceilidh, Braid Hills Hotel. With Nancy Nicolson & local musicians. Dancing to John Stuart's band. (Cont: 07906 318561)
Sunday 11.05.08 – 12.30pm Weekly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Neil Martin. (Cont: 225 1900).
Tuesday 13.05.08 – 8.00pm Leith Folk Club, South Fort St. ceilidh with Gillebride MacIlleMhaoil, Ewan MacPherson & Kathleen Graham. (Cont: 0131 478 7810).
Tuesday 13.05.08 – 7.30pm Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)
Wednesday 14.05.08 – 6.30pm Gaelic 10-week tuition course (adult beginners) Edinburgh Language Academy, 6 N. Junction St. (Cont: 555 1221).
Wednesday 14.05.08 – 6.45pm "Gaelic for Hillwalkers" course at Telford College, 350 W. Granton Rd with Gaelic tutor Neil McGregor. (Cont: 559 4421)
Saturday 17.05.08 – 11.15am Family Gaelic Club, TollX Comm. Centre, Fountainbridge. (Cont: 07729 307487)
Sunday 18.05.08 – 12.30pm General Assembly Gaelic service, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place. Rev. Dr Roderick Macleod & Rev. Norman Maciver (Cont: 225 1900).
Monday 19.05.08 – 4.00pm General Assembly Highland Lecture at Netherbow Centre, High Street, by Rev. Norman Maciver – "Cànan ar dùthcha – worth saving?" Light refreshments. All welcome.
Tuesday 20.05.08 – 4.00pm General Assembly Fringe Meeting organised by An Comunn Gaidhealach, Session Room, Greyfriars Kirk, Greyfriars Place.. " Ag àrdachadh mion-chànan. Uallach air an Eaglais?" with representatives of different denominations. All welcome.
Tuesday 20.05.08 – 7.30pm Gaelic Conversation Circle – SNP Rooms, North St. Andrew St. with Calum Cameron. (Cont: 334 7005)
Wednesday 21.05.08 – 6.30pm Gaelic 10-week tuition course (adult beginners) Edinburgh Language Academy, 6 N. Junction St. (Cont: 555 1221).
Wednesday 21.05.08 – 6.45pm "Gaelic for Hillwalkers" course at Telford College, 350 W. Granton Rd with Gaelic tutor Neil McGregor. (Cont: 559 4421)
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