Suffering children

I understand that even the ancient Romans lamented the falling of accepted standards amongst their young, so my comments may have to take their place among many centuries of such observations.

I cannot help but notice the fact that, just as the libertarian element in society has been pushing for the banning of smacking of children, standards in schools in pretty much all areas have fallen since corporal punishment was banned.

My concerns cover not only the horrendous carrying of deadly weapons by schoolchildren, which would have been unthinkable in my boyhood, but the total lack of manners towards the elderly, who are barged off pavements by groups of schoolchildren. They also never give up their seats to old folk on the bus. It is people of my age who do.

Whilst watching the news last night, I was struck by how children – and even their parents’ age group – have absolutely no idea how to hold, or use, knives and forks. They hold them like ski poles! Watching children attempting to write makes me wince. Has no one taught them how to hold a pen? Clearly not.

Perhaps the SNP should not only address the three “Rs”, but also these very important and clearly unrecognised shortcomings in our education system.

ANDREW HN GRAY

Craiglea Drive, Edinburgh