Experience counts

At a time when wee Scotland has been made even more insignificant by the boobies of Westminster, Neil Barber chooses to return to a subject close to his heart, namely the “gross democratic deficit “inherent in the fact that religious reps still sit on council education committees ( Letters, 17 September). Ignoring for the moment the gross exaggeration of the influence of said reps. I will confine my comments to their qualifications and indeed their functions, which I imagine will vary slightly from council to council as against the qualifications of the “average” councillor.

In most cases the church rep will have a background in education, and although many councillors do as well, by no means can this be taken for granted. Moreover, councillors will, as a matter of course, sit on other committees for which they have no qualifications whatsoever. I hasten to add that many councillors do an excellent job on education committees and elsewhere.

As for influence, this will be at best minimal. Most serious debating is done outside chambers. Of course they can speak on a topic, but that is about as far as it goes.

As for Neil Barber’s example of biology and physics, education committees do not exist in order to tell teachers how to teach; rather their function

is to provide all the necessary support that teachers require.

Finally, we come to Mr Barber’s dig at the views of the Catholic Church on the subject of sexual proclivities and people’s rights. There are many, many “rights” which a child has and which are constantly abused.

Schools of all description do their best to combat bullying, lack of proper food and clothing, physical and psycholog

ical abuse ( alas the list goes on) and which our society as a whole has failed to deal with or even recognise.

Neil Barber should pick his targets better.

BILL SIMPSON Ferrier Street, Carnoustie