I wholeheartedly agree with the article about class sizes in Ancrum Road Primary, Dundee. I, too, have a child at the school and I am disgusted at the way in which the headteacher has moved these proposals forward without consultation with parents.
It is shocking that pupils are being placed in classes of 33 at a time when the Scottish Government is trying to push for class sizes of 20.
The headteacher has denied that staff numbers have been reduced. Yet in a letter to parents she explicitly states that “due to a reduction in our staffing allocation we have to reduce our classes for next year”.
At the same time the pupil council states that the school aims “To promote partnership between the school, its pupils and all its parents.” This clearly has not been followed. How many other schools in Dundee are in this situation? Dundee schools are at the bottom of the league nationally for results. If Dundee is to make any progress we must address the issue of class sizes. The council is failing in its responsibility to our children if we continue this policy. Wake up Dundee and challenge the council. This is your child’s future we are talking about. — Parent.
Rocky reunion
We are trying to organise a school reunion in Dundee, during the weekend of August 23.
As most of us shall become senior citizens this year, we thought it would be an ideal time to exchange our life history since leaving The Rocky.
We also attended Liff Road Primary School and would like to arrange a reunion with these pupils, too, for the same weekend. If you left Rockwell Secondary School in the summer of 1963 — classes 3A2 and 3A4 — or attended Liff Road and are interested in getting together with your pals, please contact one of the following jparson3@bigpond.net.au or June on 07919141118 or tonyelaine@hotmail.com — Joyce Glancy, June Low and Elaine Crighton.
Support for terrorist law
I don’t know who Raymond Mennie has been speaking to but I’m yet to meet any member of the public who is opposed to holding suspected terrorists for 42 days.
The events at Glasgow Airport last year showed that nowhere is safe from the threat of terrorism.
I think our elected representatives have a responsibility to ensure our safety and, more importantly, that of our children too.
If this new legislation saves just one life I will be happy with it. I think I can safely say that the vast majority of Dundonians agree with me on that. — Real Dundee.
Parked cars
I am a disabled pensioner with an electric scooter.
On my rounds I cannot get past cars parked on the pavement. I have to go on to the road, risking my life. Why don’t the police do more about this? — Downie Park Resident.
Oil won’t last forever
Oil is making the headlines again and the Scottish Government have been asked what they would do when, in a few decades, oil runs out.
The Scottish Government has suggested an Oil Fund, which is extremely successful in other parts of the world. But at present oil makes a significant contribution to the British economy, so what strategy has the British Government got on this issue?
Surely for a balanced debate the British Government can tell us what their plans are? — Political Connoisseur.
Bus drivers
I am really surprised that letter writer Car Driver only noticed recently that some bus drivers seem to struggle to drive safely.
I have seen this in Dundee for years. I recently stopped to let a bus pull out and a child thought that I was stopping to let her out and she ran out onto the carriageway almost being run over by a car coming the other way. — Tarmac Treader.
Call for petrol tax reduction
As the price of petrol increases, Gordon Brown could do something very simple to bring the price down — cut the tax on petrol, which counts as the majority of the price.
However, I suspect the increased tax revenue is paying for all the money that Gordon Brown is currently finding to get himself out of all sorts of messes — Northern Rock, 10p tax fiasco, 42-day detention etc. — Political Connoisseur.
Claverhouse Group
I am sorry that your readers’ emails have been missed. Claverhouse stopped providing draught proofing and energy efficency services two years ago and that department is now closed.
If your readers would like information on how to get help with insulating their homes, they can visit http://www.chwdp-scottishexecutive.co.uk/warmdeal/warmdeal.php or contact Dundee Energy Efficiency Advice Project, 1 Shore Terrace, Dundee, DD1 3AH or call 01382 434840.— Alistair Cameron, Chief Executive, Claverhouse Group.
Alcohol prices
Once again the majority is being punished for the actions of the minority. The proposals to stop supermarkets selling alcohol at a price they want to see it at will only affect customers who are already feeling the pinch with inflation rising every month. The yobs who are committing the scenes of violence, etc., will only rob and steal to get the extra money to get their booze. Why not punish the perpetrators instead? — 80 Shilling.
THE ADDRESS for readers’ letters is - Readers’ Page, Evening Telegraph, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL. They can also be placed in our post box at our offices in Albert Square, Dundee, emailed to us on letters@eveningtelegraph.co.uk or faxed on 01382 454590. We ask correspondents using a nom-de-plume or sending by e-mail to provide a name and address for reference purposes. The editor reserves the right to reject or edit any letter. Please keep letters as short as possible.*
