Parents with concerns about Fife Council’s proposed shake-up of the school week have been urged to “check things out rather than jump to unfounded conclusions.”
The advice has been given by the council’s executive spokesman for education, councillor Bryan Poole, after a Fife petitioner contacted both him and The Courier to express what he described as “inaccurate and misleading” information.
Cupar businesswoman Dehra Sweet who launched an online petition against the council’s proposals to shake up the school week accused the local authority of sending out mixed messages to pupils, parents and staff about its intentions.
Assurances have been given by council officials that proposals to cut the school week, change timetabling and create more joint headships are purely at the discussion stage and there are no plans to bring them in from August 2015.
But mother-of-two Ms Sweet, of Freuchie, whose petition has attracted more than 2,900 signatures, contacted The Courier to say she was “disturbed” to hear this week that children at Glenwood High School in Glenrothes had been told in their assembly by their head teacher that there will be a change in school hours and they will be starting slightly earlier but finishing on a Friday at 1pm.
Asked to clarify the situation by The Courier, Mr Poole said Ms Sweet’s comments are incorrect.
“Sadly, like her original petition, she has included information that is just not accurate,” he said.
“I note in the most recent correspondence she states: ‘I am disturbed to hear…’ I have to ask: who from?
“My guess is, she wasn’t at the assembly she refers to. At best, what she has heard is second hand perhaps directly from a Glenwood HS pupil? Or perhaps it was third or fourth hand. The point I am making is she is making misleading assertions without taking the trouble to check their accuracy.”
Mr Poole said one “glaring” example of this is that the assembly was not taken by the head teacher.
“If this basic fact isn’t correct, it would be little wonder if what was actually said has also been inaccurately communicated, “ he said, adding: “In an issue as serious as the education of our children, it is probably sound advice to check things out rather than jumping to unfounded conclusions.”
Ms Sweet said her only concern as a parent is that her children and the other children in Fife “receive the education that will allow them the best possible outcomes”.
She added: “I have no hidden agenda or wish to cause problems for problems’ sake.”