Support for Gaelic

supported Gaelic as a second language in secondary schools for many

years prior to this Government coming to power. During the 60s and 70s

Gaelic was offered in three or four city schools and pupils were allowed

to travel outwith their own catchment area to take up this option.

If criticism can be levelled at Strathclyde region it must be that

current developments in Gaelic-medium teaching have to some extent been

at the expense of this provision. I believe that only one city school

now offers Gaelic for beginners.

Government funding through ''Specific Grants for Gaelic'' can only be

given to new initiatives, usually Gaelic-medium. Established schemes do

not qualify. Strathclyde can receive grant for Hillpark School but not

for Bellahouston Academy.

The region has therefore largely replaced its locally funded Gaelic

provision with Government-financed provision and shifted its commitment

from second language to Gaelic-medium. This can be regarded as prudent

housekeeping rather than lack of commitment.

Ms Sherman asks us to give credit to the Conservative Government for

its funding and this I willingly do. However, the Government itself has

been less than wholehearted in its support for Gaelic. Despite huge

financial support for the new and long overdue S1-S4 Gaelic Learners

course, it has resisted all pressure to give Gaelic the status of a

modern European language -- which it quite patently is -- and allow it

to be studied in Scottish schools instead of French or German.

Hence its recent ''Boost for Gaelic'' was actually a well-disguised

body blow to the language in areas where Gaelic-medium education is not

a viable proposition in the foreseeable future. This means all of

Scotland south of the Highland line, bar large conurbations where demand

can be centralised.

That these matters are so seldom openly discussed may be due to the

very smallness of your Gaelic reports, upon which Ms Sherman also

comments. When the position of Gaelic structure is ''secure in Scottish

life,'' which it assuredly is not at the moment, I look forward to

wide-ranging and extensive discussion of Gaelic affairs, music,

television programmes, concerts, and arts. Some of these should be in

Gaelic, and some might even appear in the Herald.

(Mrs) Allison Whyte,

The White House,

Station Road,

Buchlyvie.