Scottish education now ‘many times better’

Madam, – Having attended Perth Academy (then a selective school) in the 1940s I disagree strongly with George McMillan (The Courier, Letters, August 20) that Scottish education has worsened in quality.

It is many times better than it was then.

My experience was of fear and boredom.

Teachers were remote and authoritarian.

We were not expected to contest anything they said.

Independent thinking was not encouraged. There was no health, “outdoor”, relationship, moral or sexual education and no counselling or careers advice.

Local history and geography were not taught and there was no fieldwork.

We heard nothing of the “Scottish Enlightenment”, Adam Smith, David Hume or Charles Darwin.

Nor of the clearances, “Peterloo” the Irish famine, the Indian Mutiny or the misdeeds of the British overseas.

Imperialist and religious ideas prevailed as did racism and sectarianism.

Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders were referred to as “colonials”.

We did not even know what philosophy, psychology, sociology, economics anatomy, physiology, geology or meteorology were.

Most of what I learned to gain “Highers” was of little use and soon forgotten.

I would have benefited more from learning to cook and type.

The idea that Scottish education was widely admired is simply a fantasy.

Over many years I lived in Australia and Canada and visited many other countries.

No one I met expressed any opinion on Scottish education.

Tests to separate pupils at age 11 were based on flawed science and caused great harm to those who failed them.

They then received an even worse schooling than me.

It was a cruel system. Walter Markham. 347 Colinton Road, Edinburgh.