Let’s not make easy assumptions about Curriculum for Excellence and parents

Has Professor Lindsay Paterson done anything more with his remarks on the Curriculum for Excellence (CFE) than open up again a more than century-old debate about the purpose of education (your report, 4 September)? Well, he has at least prompted some concern about the use of the word “excellence” in any venture. It is a bit like the use of the word “Democratic” in the name of a country – experience tell us that, in its political make-up, the opposite effect is achieved.

If the CFE is meant to instil in our schools a respect for the behaviour and skills required for life it is difficult to argue against it. But does it really eschew the reputation for academic rigour in Scotland that has been around since the time of the Enlightenment? Education secretary John Swinney seem to think that it doesn’t.

Prof Paterson believes it does, and might even have a negative potential for widening inequality as middle-class parents seek to compensate for this by using their own methods. Who is right?

Research by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the government’s own economic advisers does stress the robustness of CFE. It is simplistic to assume that parents from less well-off backgrounds are not interested in how their children progress and that all middle-class parents somehow are interested. It is simplistic, too, to suggest only academic qualifications are suitable for the modern labour market. The Queensferry Crossing was completed not just as a result of having highly qualified construction workers, engineers and planners. It required teamwork, perseverance, insight and vision.

CFE should be judged on whether it can encourage youngsters towards that level of attainment.

BOB TAYLOR Shiel Court, Glenrothes The juxtaposition of the defence of the “disastrous” Curriculum for Excellence by John Swinney, and North Korea’s newsreader announcing the wondrous achievements of Kim Jong-un, on opposite pages of The Scotsman had remarkable parallels: both claims outrageous and dangerously wrong. ANDREW MORTON

Park Place, Dollar