I note with interest the number of letters regarding positive action by young people against litter around schools. I'm willing to bet that most of these actions are prompted by schools' involvement in the Eco-Schools programme. (Over 95% of Scottish schools are registered as Eco-Schools.) This programme encourages schools to take action to minimise waste, save energy, support biodiversity and six other sustainable approaches to life.
Only one of these is compulsory. To gain the supreme accolade - the Green Flag award - schools must tackle the litter problem within their own grounds. However, most also go much further by arranging community litter-picks, negotiating with local shops to minimise packaging etc. Thus, we have Hillhead High School's community litter events, Shawlands Academy's "litterhitters", Airdrie Academy's "eco warriors" and Stirling High School's "litterbug" art project, to name but a few.
We are, of course, aware that litter is a perennial problem, even around some of our Green Flag schools, but we are confident that the problem is recognised and attempts are being made to address it at the instigation of the young people who make up the schools' eco-committees and their friends around the campus. They deserve all the encouragement they can get to help Keep Scotland Tidy. Paul Cortopassi, Bonnybridge, Falkirk. I was genuinely surprised to note John C Scott's comment (Letters, May 8) that primary pupils had actively engaged in a Glasgow west end clean-up. In this age of political correctness and health and safety considerations I thought such initiatives were non-starters.
From experience I have found primary pupils to respond enthusiastically to all manner of pro-environmental, anti-bullying, good-citizen projects. It appears many of these good intentions evaporate with the transition to secondary school. Lunchtime litter is only part of the evidence. Another example is the recent introduction of campus police officers, an indication that our respective education authorities cannot alone cope with the indiscipline realities within and outwith school. Allan C Steele, Giffnock.
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