SECTARIANISM in Scotland has unfortunately been in the news again ("Pressure grows on football to kick out blight of sectarianism", The Herald, February 23) and the prevailing wisdom seems to be that while this is very regrettable, there are no plausible solutions to its eradication. The problem is certainly a difficult one, but there are positive steps we could take, particularly in respect of preventing young people picking up the prejudices of their elders. I have recently been reading a travelogue by Paul Theroux on the Mississippi delta area. Racism, discrimination and violence have long been an issue in the American South, but in the book Mr Theroux quoted an old civil rights campaigner: “One of the things that you have to take under consideration is that change doesn’t just happen overnight, and it mostly changes though generations. School integration made big changes. When kids go to school together they see life differently from those who were segregated.”

If integrated schooling, instigated in the United States in 1964, has been successful in improving racial tensions there, then why do we, supposedly a modern European nation, insist on separating our children along religious grounds from an early age? I know the historic reasons, but society and educational disadvantage has moved on from then and keeping the divide is the perfect way to instil in the young a “them and us” mentality; each group with its own social structures and allegiances to particular football teams. The perpetuation of the religious divide also provides a very strong argument from other religious groups that their children be separately educated. That would be very regrettable. Children must have the chance to get to know and understand each other, whatever their diverse backgrounds.

Its 55 years since the US stopped segregation and while they still have a long way to go, they have made major progress in societal integration since then. Just what are we waiting for?

Bob Downie,

66 Mansewood Road, Glasgow.

WHEN I was a boy in the 1950s my father, a sea captain, was moved to Glasgow. I was moved from a small town English prep/primary school to St Aloysius’ College in Glasgow, something of a culture shock.

I played rugby and my first game at my new school was against Hutchesons Grammar School. After the match, which we won, we were pelted with stones and lumps of coal by the losing team as we ran for the tram. I asked one of my team mates if this was normal Scottish behaviour and was told no, it was because we were Catholics. This was something completely new to me.

I had lived with friends for years from a wide variety of religious backgrounds without any problems.

I eventually took up rowing, which was marginally safer and we got on well with most crews over the years, particularly those from Glasgow High School as I recall.

As things turned out, after a number of years, St Aloysius and Hutchesons eventually formed a joint former pupils rugby club, Hutchesons/ Aloysians, “H-A”, which did reasonably well in the leagues. Perhaps pressure on private schools overcame religious differences and brought about solidarity.

Time is a great healer.

I am now an elderly man with little interest in football but it seems to me that the simplest way to curb sectarian/racist behaviour at football matches is for the referee to halt play at the first sign of significant offensive crowd behaviour, and if it persists to stop the match, which can be replayed behind closed doors to maintain the fixture programme.

The clubs and decent fans who would be losing money and enjoyment would soon find ways to silence the pests.

Sectarianism is not a product of separate schools, which we had in England. If I had heard any abuse of Protestants (of which my father was one) while at school in Glasgow I would have been very upset.

It is a product of parental and peer group influence and this can only be changed by time, education and increasing intelligence.

At school and at home I was taught never to disrespect people because they were of a different religion, race or colour. We live in hope.

Michael Kent,

102 Bullwood Road, Dunoon.

HATS off to Steve Clarke for speaking out against sectarianism, he was abused last week and, as he acknowledged, is likely to be so again after speaking out. It cannot have been easy for him to do so.

But I do take a little exception when he states that it is a "sad reflection on us as a society". I have never lived south of Aberdeen – I hail from much further north – and have never experienced sectarianism in this part of Scotland nor all the way north to Shetland. Yes, we have our own grievances and gripes (some I’m sure unwarranted) but it is wrong to state that all of Scotland is blighted by sectarianism.

I well remember the first and only Orange March in Aberdeen and it was received like an alien culture; don’t come back was the response. And they haven’t.

Willie Towers,

Victoria Road, Alford.

I AM a member of the Church of Scotland, a member of a golf club and a Rangers supporter.

During my 60-odd years living in Glasgow, I have worked with, played golf with and been a neighbour to, many people of different faiths and of none. I have got on harmoniously with all these various people and have made many exceptional friendships.

It made me sad and angry last Wednesday to be labelled a bigot by Steve Clarke, a man who has spent a large part of his working life in England. Agreed, he was called a few names that were unacceptable but he seems to perpetually be moaning about something. My experience of Glasgow over the years has seen sectarianism largely die out and, indeed, Glasgow has become a largely inclusive place, given the very large number of races and cultures living in this great city. In 2014, our residents group staged a party for the Barbados Commonwealth Games team. That to me represents how Glasgow sees itself.

Unfortunately, since Mr Clarke's comments, numerous media outlets have jumped on the story and tried to make an issue of this. Please calm down and accept, that while a small minority still have these thoughts, Glasgow is, as the old slogan says, "Miles Better".

Gordon Blackwell,

10 Valeview Terrace, Glasgow.