Today’s correspondents discuss their opinions on subjects such as Christianity, the weather, and the availability of heating oil.
Sir, Your (December 16) article about a strong positive correlation between the take-up rate for free school meals and below-average examination results could lead many to assume that this is the outcome of a family’s financial poverty.
I believe this to be a minor cause. Of much greater significance I would aver, is that of the parents’ attitude to their child’s education.
Support for teachers, ensuring that homework is completed and checked, promoting reading over playing computer games, limiting watching television, encouraging discussion of current events and enforcing a good night’s sleep, are just a few things which will help a child’s educational development.
None of these costs a penny but only a little of their time and interest. Surely children are worth it.
(Dr) Bernard W. Senior.18 Hillside Terrace,Dundee.Unsurpassed moral leaderSir, Alan Hinnrichs wonders (December 17) whether any of your Christian correspondents have actually read the Bible. Many of us have, in fact, read it all very carefully, in many cases as a daily habit for over 50 years.
In so doing, we have come to very different conclusions from Mr Hinnrichs.
We have found for ourselves that our most profound questions about life and its meaning, about its origin and its destiny, about morality and duty, and so much more, are answered in the Bible far more convincingly and satisfactorily than anywhere else.
We have also found that the more we read the Bible, humbly and sincerely, the more our respect for and our admiration of the Lord Jesus Christ increases.
We cannot agree that there are far better teachers and moral leaders than He is.
No-one else has left such a lasting influence upon history, so much so that, even now, His birth is again being commemorated worldwide.
And Easter will arrive a celebration of His resurrection and victory over death which one unique empty tomb continues to proclaim.
We have found something else. Because Jesus Christ is alive today we can trust Him to be our saviour and find Him to be our best friend for this life and the next.
(Dr) Bert Cargill.45 Braehead,St Monans.Prime example of intoleranceSir, Alan Hinnrichs (December 17) ridicules Marjorie Ferguson (Christian faith sets an example to follow) for several things that she did not actually say or imply.
As usual, he enters into a vicious anti-Christian diatribe, making misleading sweeping statements without reference to circumstances or context.
Mr Hinnrichs has the freedom to spout his militant atheistic beliefs.
However, such expressions of intolerance and total disregard for the sacred and well-considered feelings of countless others do not have a positive influence in any way towards encouraging a more civilised society.
Sylvia Brown.9 Beech Avenue,Ladybank.Voters will have final saySir, Perth and Kinross Council’s claim that “overwhelming” public support drives the proposed new foot and cycle bridge between the historic North Inch golf course and Scone was evidently not backed by any stated, detailed evidence.
As your correspondent Bill Fairweather writes (December 18) the relevant committee saw fit to ignore both the opposing petition from more than 1200 local citizens and the pleas from the Scottish Golf Union.
The Perth public’s impression now seems to be that the bridge is, in fact, just the hobbyhorse of a few councillors and some keen cyclists, without any convincing case for it being needed but that, since they have obtained funding, the bridge must be built.
Since our nation is broke, it is quite a feat to gather money from taxpayer funds but surely these proposals, attracting very serious objections, should now be dropped and replaced by a more useful scheme such as creating cycle tracks, both to encourage cycling and help safer traffic flow in the Fair City.
The councillors will want to bear in mind two points – it is their job to get the best deal in all the taxpayers’ interests and there will soon be elections, allowing voters to assess their record in meeting that vital responsibility.
(Dr) Charles Wardrop.111 Viewlands Road West,Perth.Let down by fuel supplierSir, Having read your article (December 18) regarding BP and Scott Williamson’s fuel supply, we are having the same problems, having placed an order on December 8, and until now, we have had no delivery.
Contact with BP has been unsatisfactory. We have been left hanging on the line for hours and the only information we get is that we are not scheduled for delivery that day.
Our tank has been showing empty for seven days.
(Dr) David King.Kinaldy House,St Andrews.An up-front snow solutionSir, The recent blizzards which have hit Scotland have meant that even snow ploughs have become stuck due to lack of traction.
However, I recently saw a report of a snow plough which was gritting in front of the vehicle, meaning that it always travelled over gritted roads.
A simple solution to a complex problem.
Hugh W. Dunlop.31 Underwood Street,Glasgow.