Pupils should stop moaning - and count their blessings

May 15 2008

I am the mother of a pupil at Calderside Academy. Can I firstly say I have never before been compelled to write a letter to the Advertiser or any other newspaper.

I am thoroughly fed up with constant onslaught of rubbish levied against this new school. Every week for as many months as I can remember, there have been letters from parents/children moaning about various ‘problems’ with either the school, the Blantyre community or the staff at the school. These people do not realise how fortunate they are to have a brand new, state of the art secondary school to send their children to.

The letter in last week’s Advertiser about transport arrangements was the final straw for me. The pupil who sent the letter complained about the timing of the pick-up of children and stated that they were kept waiting every morning for 50 minutes.

I find this hard to believe. While delays are common and hold-ups unavoidable, I fail to see that this would be the case every single morning. This issue should, however, be raised with the bus company and is not the fault of the school.

As for the author’s comments about the state of the buses, then can I say who exactly is responsible for the graffiti, dirt and chewing gum being left all over the bus?

I would suggest that if the pupil concerned does not want to moan at other pupils who are not conducting themselves properly, they should have a quiet word with a member of staff.

If the same names are reported often enough, and those pupils are then threatened with the removal of their bus privileges, perhaps things would improve.

I do agree that where possible a bus escort would be a good idea, but by the same token is it too much to ask that these pupils behave in the responsible manner which should be expected from them?

I have sympathy for the pupils on these buses who do act responsibly but peer pressure is a great thing so why not set up an action group within the pupil council to address these issues? I feel confident that the senior management team would listen and advise on this matter.

In conclusion, I have had reason to be in the school on several occasions and must say I found it a very comfortable and safe environment for our youngsters.

My advice for pupils, both local and those being transported into Blantyre, would be this: be proud of your school and think yourselves lucky to have a new, modern building in which to receive your free education.

There are millions of children worldwide who would love to have these options.

Name and address supplied, letter sent by e-mail.