Damaging populism

Brian Smith has me bang to rights for my own unsuitable language (Trouble with the ‘tone’; SN, 12/03/15), and I should not have written my first letter to the media (Posturing MSP; SN, 12/03/15) while in a mood of high dudgeon. Apologies.

However, I stand by my wider points. There are many, deeper cuts coming soon and the populism around schools is very damaging.

I have many friends and relations who dare not voice a contrary opinion in their community and we are not getting a rounded picture of public opinion.

I would not dare write this letter if I still stayed in Shetland.

We can in fact lose school buildings without damaging the quality of education; indeed we can broaden children’s life choices.

The motives for keeping small schools are not about education but the education department has to fund them.

If communities really want them (and that is genuinely the free opinion of a majority) then funding should come from other sources, eg community, charitable or development.

Chris Mackie
Aberdeen