Wednesday's Letters: Put history back on the curriculum and unite our nation

Later that day, I watched the Festival of Remembrance on TV. On Sunday, I presided at a Church Service of Remembrance and also saw on TV much of the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

It appears that all acts of Remembrance have been very well-attended this year. This should not come as a surprise, I think, when one remembers all which has happened and is happening to keep our United Kingdom free for all who live here.

I was disappointed to see that it appeared that the vast majority taking part in both televised events were indigenous white people.

Perhaps this has something to do with history no longer being taught in schools and, hence, many recent immigrants not being aware of the of the debt we all owe to those who have kept this land free, more or less, since the Normans landed in 1066?

So, Mr Gove, Education Secretary, please put history back into the curriculum of every school and so help to unite our nation in its thanks for all who have given us our freedom.

From: Canon Michael Storey, Healey Wood Road, Brighouse.

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

I LEFT school at the age of 15, with a Scottish Junior Leaving

Certificate, and was dispatched to a UK Government-sponsored apprentice scheme to learn to be an electrical engineer dealing with heavy switchgear, transformers, motors etc, along with every evening at the local college to study the physics of such and also draughtsmanship.

Fifty-five years on, I now know how to change a plug, sort out a broken-down carpet cleaner or mend the mower.

But I cannot understand the intelligence of the students of the year 2010. Nothing to do with marches and destruction.

It is why university students of today cannot answer general knowledge questions when they appear on TV quiz shows, which I now watch from the sedentary position of my settee.

Recently, on an early evening BBC programme, we had two history students who got every question – yes, on history – wrong. Likewise, two medical students did not know the most simple parts of the body, with one explaining she was only in her first year at university.

Should I donate my ancient body when it expires in years to come?

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

THOSE Muslims who set fire to a poppy on Armistice Day (Yorkshire Post, November 12) need to stop and think how much damage they are doing to the "tolerance" of the host nation, which has bent over backwards to accommodate, and accept and allow their faith to prosper here in England.

There are limits and "enough is enough".

From: KM Herbert, Bluebell Avenue, Penistone, Sheffield.

THE behaviour by Muslims on Armistice Day was atrocious and should not be tolerated by the British people.

The Conservative Party was put into office to protect the people of the UK and their beliefs. No way is this being achieved.

Pay goes up as hospital standards fall

From: Dr Robert Heys, Bar Lane, Ripponden, Halifax.

UNLESS the monitoring of hospital services by regulatory bodies improves, I fear treatment of the aged ("Elderly patients suffer needless harm as hospitals fail care test," Yorkshire Post, November 11) is unlikely to improve.

Despite the reported widespread occurrence of such maltreatment, the number of hospitals named and shamed has been minimal, as the situation in my local NHS Foundation Trust illustrates.

Thus its services have repeatedly been graded "good" or "excellent" by the independent assessor, despite the number of bedsores – predominantly affecting the elderly – having risen by 47 per cent and 53 per cent respectively in its two hospitals between 2008-09 and 2009-10.

Far from such failings having been detected and condemned by regulators, they have actually been rewarded! As previously reported ("NHS Trust salary shock", Yorkshire Post, June 24), the salaries of senior managerial staff, have risen by between 75,000 and 32,000 between 2006-7 and 2008-9, and still further since then.

From: Liz Parry, Malaga, Spain.

HAVING lived most of my life abroad, I have had little personal experience of the health services in this country but have seen many reports in the British and expat media decrying the state of the NHS.

However, over the past year, I have come to know many aspects of health care here, as my mother, who passed away recently, needed a lot of care and was in hospital three times (once for an operation) in Bassetlaw Hospital and Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

The level of care and services offered by the hospital staff, Retford PCT, Nottinghamshire Adult Social Care and Health Department and the Red Cross could not, I am sure, have been better anywhere.

My family and I are extremely grateful not only for their professionalism but also for the warmth and helpfulness we all encountered – the individuals concerned are far too numerous to mention.

Benefits of BBC strike

From: Cecil Hallas, Cubley Rise Road, Penistone, Sheffield.

I FIND it somewhat amusing that some of these BBC journalistic characters who've been on strike think that what they are doing will make the slightest bit of difference.

These journalists who we suppose to have their finger on the pulse of the public, in this instance seem to be listening only to each other, as opposed to the public who I meet, all of whom seem to find their cause unrealistic and ridiculous. Do these people think that what they are doing will have much impact on our lives?

Personally, I'm rather enjoying the absence of some of the BBC's time-serving old warriors. I find that I can easily live without Huw Edwards and Jeremy Paxman, the new faces I find quite refreshing. It also gives the newcomers a foot in the door and a real opportunity for the BBC to show that these new people can read the autocue quite as well as their predecessors – and at somewhat less cost.

Besides, the BBC needs to have its head pulled out of the sand regarding its attitude to stardom. For decades, the corporation has plugged certain individuals, building up their reputations until they believe the viewers find them indispensable.

Sadly, the BBC have come to believe their own propaganda, building up shows like EastEnders, a programme unwatched by almost all of my acquaintances and where the participants have somehow become "stars".

Indispensable? I doubt it. Personally, I'm rather sad the strike is over. I was just beginning to enjoy the new format.

Clegg harms his cause

From: Peter Burrows, Bedfordshire Liberal Party, Saxon Close, Dunstable, Bedfordshire.

IN the period when the Conservatives and Lib Dems were in opposition, they were paid millions of pounds in Short and Cranborne money (taxpayers' money) to fund an effective opposition to the then Labour government.

This was in addition to the not inconsiderable Parliamentary pay and allowances they received.

We now hear Nick Clegg stating that when he signed the pledge in relation to not increasing university fees, he did so because he was unaware of the financial crisis that the country is facing. Why didn't he know? Members of Parliament shadowed government ministers and had access to detailed financial information. To now plead ignorance shows at the very least a degree of incompetence incompatible with holding high office.

Nick Clegg has done immeasurable harm to the Liberal cause. Hopefully, Liberals will now return to their true home in the Liberal Party which is totally opposed to tuition fees.

A man loyal to his roots

From: Brian Sheridan, Redmires Road, Sheffield.

I WAS grateful to my son for phoning me to tell me that Ian McMillan was about to feature on Desert Island Discsitalics. I would have been upset if I had missed it.

Ian, a self-confessed show-off, was on scintillating form and he clearly enjoyed every minute of the show as, manifestly, did presenter Kirsty Young.

Who but Ian could get away with the choice of Andy Stewart's "Donald where's your troosers?" and a quote from Cage's silent composition? Not to mention poking fun at East Midlands speech patterns!

Unlike the shallower, less-gifted and less-cultured Michael Parkinson – make no mistake, Ian could do what Parky did but chooses to rely on his own talents rather than feed off others – the Barnsley Bard has remained loyal to his roots.

Thanks, Ian, but when you get your bus pass, don't let me down by coming on TV advertising pension plans.

We cannot tolerate anarchy on our streets

From: Maureen Hunt, Woolley, Near Wakefield.

ON the eve of Armistice Day, the students stormed the headquarters of the Conservative Party, part of the democratically-elected coalition Government of this country. They attacked the police, the guardians of law and order.

On Armistice Day, we remembered the men and women who died serving in the Armed Forces during the two World Wars. They laid down their lives so that we could enjoy freedom and democracy.

Today, there are troops in Afghanistan fighting to control the spread of terrorism to enable us to live in safety.

By their violent and irresponsible actions, the students struck a blow for anarchy. It is to be hoped that, with reflection, most of them will be deeply ashamed of their behaviour.

During the Second World War, my husband spent nearly five years of his youth in the forces, part of it in the Indian Army in Burma. When he was repatriated, he got a job and studied for a professional qualification by correspondence course. There was no university education for him, nor for the thousands of young men who lie in war graves all over the world.

Once we had a leader who earned the name the Iron Lady, and had an international reputation for courage and resolve. We trust our present leaders will deal with this insurrection with equal firmness.

With the constant threat of terrorism, we cannot tolerate anarchy in our streets. We must be a united nation.

A solution that works

From: H Marjorie Gill, Clarence Drive, Menston.

REGARDING the benefit changes, some would argue that it is a waste of talent to do a job which is less than their abilities are suited to do, but isn't any job better than sitting idle and existing on benefits with the costs being borne by fellow citizens and taxpayers?

There are many empty properties in our towns and cities. Why isn't there a concerted effort to get them back into shape using unskilled labour to do the simpler tasks, with local small businessmen to do the skilled work?

This would bring a number of people into the workaday habit and gradually teach them skills which could be useful in other spheres.

Best feet forward

From: Pat Tomlinson, Elmsall Drive, Beverley, East Yorkshire.

AS a daily reader of the Yorkshire Postitalics, I particularly look forward to Saturday's edition when I immediately turn to the Country Week supplement and go straight to the weekly walk.

We have enjoyed many of these walks in the past, both in Yorkshire and Cumbria. This month alone, we have rambled from Wetherby, Harrogate, Wass and, only last week, St. John's in the Vale. All of these outings were enhanced by the clear instruction and helpful sketch map.

Please keep them coming!

Chicken and egg situation

From: Brian Waddington, Dukes Wharf, Terry Avenue, York.

JIM Paice, the farming minister, wants British consumers (Yorkshire Post, November 13) to see only eggs from hens kept in better welfare cages on supermarket shelves. Really Minister! We all like our food to be fresh but how many supermarkets does he think have room for such a development?