The Gazette | News | PARENTS: OUR TEACHERS ARE ON THE SCRAPHEAP

Monday, 1st December, 2008

Published: Thursday, 21st August, 2008 18:00

PARENTS: OUR TEACHERS ARE ON THE SCRAPHEAP

By Eitan Grant

COMMUNITY leaders have hit out at education bosses for ‘throwing local teachers on the scrap heap’.

Outspoken activists in Linwood have criticised Renfrewshire Council’s decision to slash the schools’ budget across the authority claiming pupils are being denied classes.

Worried mum Lynda Downes took her five-year-old son Thomas along to Woodlands Primary School for the first time on Monday.

The 28-year-old said: “As a parent you want the best for your son.

“Some of the teachers who taught me when I was a young girl will not be there this year and it is sad to see them go.

“Anything that affects our children’s education is not something you want to hear is it.

“I am saddened that those with the most experience are the ones leaving the profession earlier than they might have in the past. They wont be able to take the youngsters under their wing and give them the benefit of their experience.”

Outraged community councillors have written a stern letter to director of education John Rooney outlining their stance.

In the strongly-worded document they express their concerns.

The letter said: “At it’s most recent meeting, Linwood community council expressed deep concern over the effects of the Council’s recent cuts in the education budget and calls on the council to reverse this decision in the interests of the proper education of the present and future generations of our children.

“It is understood that as consequence of these cuts some of Linwood’s most able teachers are being thrown on the scrap heap through early retirement and that pupils are being denied classes on subjects of their choice.”

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