Assessment starts too early

Sir, – Lately there was much to-do about assessments for four and five-year-olds, with some kids being very upset because they did not know the answers.

The more I started to think about this, the more upset I got.

What is wrong with the SNP in having such young kids assessed – kids that barely started life?

Who on earth started this totally crazy idea of letting kids answer questions with multiple choice answers?

These children have only just started to read and write.

Education minister John Swinney says that these assessments have no great influence on the school years or education of these kids.

However, it seems to me as if children are no longer allowed to be children.

Instead, children have to perform under pressure as soon as they are born.

If you want to create mental health issues, the SNP is well on its way to creating a whole generation with such problems.

It starts with these assessments – children being branded and feeling bad for not knowing answers.

It all creates feelings of low esteem.

That is where it starts – with a lack of selfconfidence the seeds of mental heath problems are planted.

Does Mr Swinney not realise that not everyone fits into the box created by the SNP?

What is wrong with people not going to university?

What is wrong with learning an honest trade?

Due to the pressure from an early age, everyone feels they have to go to university, resulting in a lack of good, honest tradesmen. Maaike Cook. Cash Feus, Strathmiglo.