Rivin’ oot da heart (Dorothy Harcus)

I thought that I had written my very last letter on this weary topic. Sadly, no.

At the end of the meeting in Ollaberry hall da streen, I choost felt like staandin up and saying tae dat pui fokk: “Haad up yer haun if you feel that this meeting has been a waste of time.”

At least one lady did not think this. Maybe der wer mair.

I do not ken what ails dese pannelists. Kin de no see what is so obvious? Dat so many o’ Shetland’s best brains, like Arthur Anderson, Johnnie Notions, several headmasters of AHS, Geordie Jamieson, Ian Spence, to name drop a few, all started oot in de peedie rural schools.

I realise I will never get an answer to this, but why on earth does Mlle Budge tink dat it’s mair difficult to read wi’ nae idder bairns aroond.

Let me nail dat enn smartly. Many bairns can read “afore” de start primary school. I am certain that my four-year-old grand-daughter will be one. Dey will, wi’ good books for the purpose and the right interest. Happily, der are plenty o’ right books, one o’ the few things we get for wir rates.

When dey trained me as an infant/nursery teacher, the expert opinion was somewhere, somehow, sometime, children learn to read.

My anger was compounded by our head of education’s condescending remark on Wednesday following the Ollaberry meeting. She appeared to commend those who spoke from the floor for their articulation.

I think most of would not lack that art on learning that the heart was to be riven oot o’ wir communities!

Dorothy Harcus
Symbister,
Whalsay.