Let P1 pupils be unafraid to fail

I FOUND it both heartening and interesting that the debate on testing five-year-olds in Scottish primary schools continues to burn fiercely (“P1 pupils can only opt out of tests under ‘exceptional circumstances’”, The Herald,

August 24).

It appears that the underlying theme of this insistence reflects the perceived cornerstone of any success in Scottish education, namely compliance. The Scottish Government cannot wait to get its influence imposed on the young minds of children in their first year of schooling. They have to learn that obedience to the nanny government is essential and they will be allowed no show of free will.

I find it very odd that Scotland’s Government often boasts of having university graduates teaching fiveyear-olds yet cannot bring itself to trust the teachers’ holistic judgements through continuous assessment. This autocratic stance of the Scottish Government is something most parents would have imagined was consigned to the bin of history.

I expect it is only a matter of time until we read adverts for private tutoring to pass the P1 national test. The words of the late Jimmy Reid resound over this issue, “the rat race is for rats”.

Our very young P1 school children should be encouraged to be open-minded and creative thinkers, unafraid to fail so long as they display thoughtful originality, individualism and inventiveness. Instead we seem busy devising ways to ensure they are conditioned to be cloned to a model set out by politicians.

Bill Brown,

46 Breadie Drive,

Milngavie.

PARENTS are the educators of their children but entrust part of that to others at a place called a school. If they do not wish their children to participate in something it’s their business, not some official’s. Ignore the officials and opt out.

Brian Mckenna,

Overton Avenue,

Dumbarton.