Tuesday's Letters: School system that helped pupils to make the most of life

It is now 30 years ago since my contemporaries and I took our GCE O-levels, chose our A-level subjects and contemplated our suitability to study at a higher level. There were far fewer universities to choose from at that time and the content of many study courses were far more traditional, compared with the more practical vocational training which was available at the polytechnics. At that particular time, academic merit appeared to play a more leading role regarding university entrance and I cannot recall hearing anything about social engineering.

I attended an excellent independent girls' school and my place was greatly assisted financially because I was awarded a direct grant form of scholarship. The education I was fortunate to receive was, indeed, of an exceptionally high standard and provided me with instruction in subjects such as modern languages and Latin which, in later years, have enabled me to earn my living.

The vast majority of my contemporaries at school hailed from wealthier backgrounds than me, but we all received the same tuition and opportunities to advance ourselves in a post-school environment.

I was by no means one of the strongest scholars in my class and school year. Certain young ladies were particularly gifted individuals, regardless of social background, who proved themselves worthy of their places at Oxford, Cambridge and other top universities.

As the daughter of an electrician and a former weaver, my upbringing was neither disadvantaged, nor highly privileged. I never wished, however, to remove opportunities from my higher-performing, wealthier and socially superior classmates with regard to their realising their potential and personal ambitions, and believe that those who aspire to hold back very bright people are exercising spite instead of common sense. Individuals are not responsible for their circumstances regarding birth and social background, and some parents have worked extremely hard to accumulate enough wealth to send their children to private schools and university. I accepted and still accept the limitations of my own academic ability.

I progressed to study at a less prestigious, but very respectable university where, ultimately, I gained an upper second-class degree.

Many people may disagree with me, but I remain a proponent of the old state grammar school system. In spite of its weaknesses, this system enabled very many people from all social backgrounds to attain academic success and propelled many from working class backgrounds to achieve a higher social status than they had, perhaps, previously envisaged.

Ironically, some of those who have enjoyed the benefits of a free grammar school education, the payment of university tuition fees and

the receipt of maintenance grants have proceeded to condemn the system which facilitated many of their achievements.

New leaders who broke their pledges

From: Brian White, Britannia Close, Chilcompton, near Bath.

NOW we at last have it. Instead of the Conservative Government one had hoped for, we rejoice in the advent of Bill and Ben the broken promises men. How either of these two can look their real supporters in the face one cannot fathom.

David Cameron has, as many of us feared when he was elected leader, destroyed the Conservative Party. If he had had the sense to agree to work with UKIP during the election, there would now be a Conservative Government. Instead, we have a wishy-washy Liberal outfit unable to stick up to the EU.

If we had wanted a Liberal mob in charge, we would have voted for them. Instead, we have been sold down the river. No doubt many of the Liberal Democrat people feel exactly the same as many of us do. Broken promises seem to be the norm these days and men of honour are conspicuous by their absence. Apart from a couple of Cabinet members, where are the men who promised to fight for a government that put Britain first?

What about the primacy of British law or do we now bow down to everything that the EU, controlled by Paris and Bonn, tell us that we have to do?

We needed a strong and more than capable Home Secretary who would get to grip with the problems of law and order, immigration and the like. Instead, we have Goody Two Shoes. Oh for the return of David Davis, a man of real principle and proven worth. When the lights go out, orchestrated by the new Energy Minister, and we all shiver and starve, there will be very little comfort in being told that we have enjoyed the benefit of a stable government. Fool's gold indeed. Talk about getting out of the frying pan into the fire.

From: John Watson, Hutton Hill, Leyburn.

IN my book, one of the main planks of the Tory manifesto was the repeal of the Human Rights Act and replacing it with a British Bill of Rights so that at last we could get back to basic British common sense and responsible behaviour. Now this fragile Government has changed its mind because a minority Liberal rump has insisted on it for their support.

I am not surprised that some senior Tories are unhappy with this U-turn, and if this is a precursor of things to come in this coalition, then I think the longevity of such an arrangement is in doubt.

I am sure that if the Lib Dems' bluff was called, they would have agreed to the above amendment. Now they are ensconced in the Cabinet and elsewhere in the coalition with the attendant salaries, I don't think they would want to return to the libertarian political wilderness from whence they came.

Chris Huhne, of course, is the exception. He says he will resign from the Cabinet if the Human Rights legislation is interfered with. I can't wait for the moment.

From: D Birch, Smithy Lane, Cookridge, Leeds.

SINCE the election on May 6, I and most probably a few million more voters, are trying to get our heads round the duplicity of the people now in power. We all know politicians lie, but in the week after the elections, in the 64 years of my 87 when I have voted, I don't ever remember a time when we had so many lies and deceptions aimed at the voting public and the shame I felt at being British.

These people who formed this coalition will not be trusted in the UK again, nor will they be trusted anywhere in the world, when they represent the British people. They have soiled not only themselves for a few short years of power, but Britain's standing in the world as well.

From: Don Burslam, Elm Road, Dewsbury Moor, Dewsbury.

POOR old Lib Dems! They are assailed from the Left for failing to shack up with Labour; quite impracticable, of course. The Tories don't like them either because they have had to give ground (and some jobs) to a party they have opposed tooth and nail for years. The Lib Dems have been accused of ditching their principles for the sake

of office.

What has happened is that the cosy set-up between the two big parties has been blown sky high. Tough!

Considering the Liberals, or Lib Dems, have had to put up for years with a rigged voting system, the cries of foul and betrayal have a rather hollow ring. It is the Lib Dems (and the voters) who have had cause for complaint at a system which has deliberately been skewed to confine power and office to the same old two failed outfits.

I detect a swelling tide in favour of fair votes at last.

From: DSR Watson, Ford Ridgeway, Near Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

AS a lifelong Conservative voter, I was unable to vote for Mr Cameron at the recent election.

Can any of your readers explain why none of the three major political parties were prepared to discuss Europe? Is this because almost everyone in the country wants a referendum on the subject of Europe or is it because the politicians know that the vast majority of the electorate wish to leave the European Union?

Frankly, this country cannot afford to remain part of the European Union because the direct and indirect cost to this country, based on 2008 values, is almost 56bn per annum.

Orderly withdrawal from the European Union would go a long way to solving this country's financial crisis, without damaging essential services, substantially address the serious immigration troubles and restore democracy to Westminster. Very few of your readers realise that over 70 per cent of Westminster legislation comes from Europe.

Withdrawal from Europe will not adversely affect our trading relationship with the mainland. Europe needs our trade as much, if not more, than we need their trade.

At last, there's hope for democracy in Britain

From: Philip Smith, New Walk, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

It was refreshing to hear Nick Clegg talk about the biggest reforms in our political system since 1832 being on the way. I am a Liberal Democrat mainly because I am a liberal who believes in proper democracy – not the half-baked excuse we have for it at the moment. The referendum on the voting system for MPs has to have several options from First Past The Post (FPTP) to full PR.

Maybe the Alternative Vote (AV) system should be used to decide which form of PR is to be used. I support the Take Back Parliament campaign which advocates full PR and thereby full democracy. It's simply not good enough to restrict our choice in the referendum to FPTP or AV.

The House of Lords has to have a name change, be fully elected by full PR and be reduced in size to have any credibility as an efficient democratic institution. The days of Tony Blair's and Gordon Brown's cronies filling the benches has to be gone forever.

With the reform of the House of Lords – and the removal of the so-called Lords Spiritual – must also come the disestablishment of the Church of England. The Church of England is even more out of touch with the country than the Labour Party has been. It does not represent the beliefs of the vast majority of the British people anymore and hasn't

for decades.

It's simply not fair that the state church gets preferential treatment over any other set of beliefs when we are living in a pluralistic religious and humanistic society.

Well done to the coalition for the proposal to introduce fixed term parliaments so that we get a measure of longer term thinking rather than political expediency as at the moment. Also, it should not be the case that – just because the Government loses one or two votes in the Commons – it is expected to call an election.

It would be far healthier to have more voting with conscience and less use (or even the banning) of whips – and be able to risk losing a few votes in the interests of better democracy. The US President doesn't face re-election if one of his Bills fails to get through Congress.

There's hope for proper democracy in Britain for the first time ever.

Great divide of public transport

From: Hilary Andrews, Nursery Lane, Leeds.

WE have recently been on a short trip to London. During our time there, we travelled on the London buses. They were very frequent and we never waited more than four minutes for any service even at busy times of the day. We returned to Leeds by train. It took two hours and 20 minutes from King's Cross. From Leeds city square to Primley Park on the 71, it took an hour and five minutes to get home.

We were continually struck by the very great North-South divide on our trip. Come on Yorkshire, fight for our rights.

War hypocrisy

From: Phil Hanson, Beechmount Close, Baildon, Shipley.

HOW interesting it is that now with the election lost, Ed Balls can admit that all along Labour should not have gone into Iraq.

Of course, his acknowledgment comes now because he is looking after his self-interest and trying to gather any support from the tattered remains of New Labour. Honesty seemed an absent commodity when the nation's troops were spilling their blood.

The learning for Balls and the Labour Party is to be honest in future and tell us the truth.

Act for change

From: John Gordon, Whitcliffe Lane, Ripon, North Yorkshire.

ONE law that the new Government should look at is the Money Laundering Act.

When I applied to a bank for an account, I found that I had to establish my identity no fewer than four times.

My passport, my driving licence, my income tax and my pension all had to be shown, certified by a lawyer or a teacher.