In his article “Watch with care: how the BBC has been rewriting our history”, November 15), Mark Smith raises an important issue regarding the BBC’s historical narratives.
The suggestion that the broadcaster manipulates history to fit contemporary agendas is alarming and detrimental to public trust. History should be presented with accuracy and impartiality, rather than being selectively rewritten to serve a political narrative.
The BBC, funded by licence fees, has a duty to provide the public with honest and balanced content. We, as taxpayers, expect transparency and objectivity, especially from a national institution that plays a fundamental role in shaping our collective memory.
It is imperative that we hold the BBC accountable for its editorial choices and ensure it remains a pillar of unbiased reporting, securing the integrity of our shared history.
Alastair Majury, Dunblane.
Disappointed with the Beeb
Like many, I’m disappointed with the way that the BBC has handled the Trump Panorama affair and, more generally, with the way in which it keeps giving ammunition to its enemies in political and the media.
Regardless of what happens in future with the BBC’s governance and the licence fee, I shall always regard the corporation as one of the key factors in British life. I hope it does not succumb to Trump’s threats over financial recompense.
S Martin, Glasgow.
Parents’ excessive use of delegation
Eric Melvin describes the current state of Scottish education as “ under siege” (“Scottish education is now under siege. Here’s what the government could do”, letters, November 14). I suggest it is no coincidence that the current crisis in the NHS is also often described as such.
I consider that a major contributing factor in both is that parenting is the only profession which requires no effective and robust training, assessment or qualification, other than the capacity for biological reproduction.
Politicians of all colours tend to treat such topics as untouchable. Baby boxes make better vote catchers.
I feel that as a society we have become obsessed with human rights and have considered responsibility and accountability of the parent with a soft touch in our assumed identity as a liberal democracy.
Too many parents are likely to consider their children’s education as something to be delegated to schools and I suspect that maintaining their children’s physical and mental health is often seen as the duty of the medical profession.
Young people of today have a very different perspective on all aspects of life than their counterparts of last century yet we seem unable to develop nuanced approaches to learning using modern technology to meet the needs of all.
We remain far too reliant on an adult in front of a class and this ubiquitous model must be increasing recognised as unsustainable.
Bill Brown, Milngavie.
Early to bed, early to rise ...
One of the major elements resulting in lateness is surely the time at which today’s children go to bed and even then they are often using electronic devices.
Modern technology has many benefits which unfortunately are often offset by uncontrolled and excessive use.
No such devices influenced my young years when living in a house without electricity until the age of 13, and early rises to deliver newspapers, followed by a milk round, were offset by being in bed by eight o’clock. Reading in bed by candlelight was not allowed, for obvious reasons.
In spite of modern thinking that doing jobs before school is detrimental to learning, I managed to achieve university standard Highers aged 16. I also find that being early for medical appointments often pays dividends, being seen ahead of time.
Unfortunately, peer pressure dictates much of modern life and turning back the clock is not an option, but learning good habits at a young age certainly pays dividends.
James Graham, Clydebank.
Disappearing parishes
While I have total sympathy with the parishioners of St Albert’s in Pollokshields on losing their church (“Parishioners appeal Pope’s ruling as they fight to stop ‘cynical’ merger of parish”, November 15), one aspect of the report leaves me surprised.
The parishioners seem more concerned that the actual name of the parish is being lost, rather than the church building itself.
In 2004, my own parish church (the relatively new and in good condition) Our Lady of Fatima in Dalmarnock, was also closed by the Archdiocese and the parishioners had to become part of one of the next parishes – that is, our parish “disappeared”.
We were never even made aware of any option to retain the parish name and have it amalgamated with the other parish. I also believe all assets were transferred to the next parish.
My best wishes are with the parishioners of St Albert’s, as I feel we were walked over by the Archdiocese 20 years ago.
J Kerr, Glasgow.
Excellent service by rail staff
I’m writing to share our experience of the excellent service we received on two long train journeys last week between Edinburgh and Tiverton Parkway, the stop before Exeter.
My wife and I were going down for the funeral of a 93-year-old friend. I’m disabled, and requested passenger assistance. At both stations there was someone to meet us with a ramp, and help with our luggage.
On the way back, due to a fallen tree on the line, we all had to leave the train at Bristol – again, there were staff members to help us, and get us onto a train to Dundee which stopped at Edinburgh.
This makes such a difference to a journey, and it’s good to be able to praise a railway company – in this case CrossCountry – when they so often only get complaints.
Rev John Harvey, Glasgow.
Snowflake news?
I see we are in for a colder spell of weather, perhaps with snow. Is this true? Or is it flake news?
Alastair Clark, Stranraer.
Come on, Scotland
Well done, Steve Clarke and his players. Who would have thought a year ago that Scotland might yet reach the World Cup finals? A win over Denmark on Tuesday would be perfect.
P Ferguson, Glasgow.
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