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Broader view needed of child abuse(Yorkshire Post Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)From: JG Riseley, Harcourt Drive, Harrogate. DEBATE over potential child abusers in schools has centred on how good we are at cross-indexing lists, and whether anyone knows the rules. In other words, the issue has been one of possible negligence regarding those people whom we already have some grounds to suspect. But perhaps we need to step back to see the scope of the actual problem. Teachers begin their careers in their early 20s, and some others who work with children can start even younger. It is quite unrealistic to assume that everyone with a predisposition to commit abuse will have acquired a criminal record by this stage. Recent internet pornography cases have yielded much information on some people of dubious inclinations. But these cases are also an indication that there may be many others of similar inclination who were simply not foolish enough to use their credit cards for such a purpose, and that there will be many more in the future who have learnt this lesson and will not be caught so easily. We cannot, then, assume that we are able to completely exclude potential child abusers from schools (Yorkshire Post, January 20). Recognising this, we need to be sure that there is sufficient visibility of what happens in schools to deter abuse and to detect it as it arises. This could be achieved through greater use of closed-circuit television, viewing galleries and open-planning, together with a system for collating incident reports. These measures would also provide much-needed protection to the reputations of innocent teachers. It would help address the substantial problem of abuse committed by pupils, and it would highlight the problem of children being abused through their education being disrupted by other pupils. From: Jean Evans, Norton, Malton. WHAT has happened to the House of Commons in recent times? It was the accepted procedure formerly that any Minister who made a bad decision (or failed to make the right one) apologised to the House and resigned. Now it seems that, far from taking such a step, a decision which could endanger the safety of vulnerable children is supported by the Prime Minister, and the Minister responsible is defended. They talk of researching back the records for 30 years. Are they stupid? Or do they think we are? No-one needs to go back more than three years to find that, as a result of the appalling tragedy at Soham, it was recommended by the legal profession that the system of recording the details of any person suspected or found guilty of an offence involving children, should be placed on the list of offenders. In three years, nothing has been done. This is indefensible. Agonising on role of women bishops From: Philip Smith, Copandale Road, Beverley. THREE articles published in the Yorkshire Post on January 17 explain why the Church of England and real Christianity in England continue to struggle. The "compromise scheme" with respect to women bishops is typical of a Church bereft of revelation. To suggest that women can be bishops but not archbishops is frankly ridiculous, and most people know that. The Bishop of Wakefield's argument about "equal rights" misses the point completely. Since creation, women have always been equal to men in the sight of God. However, equality does not mean they are the same. In the scriptures, God emphasises men's roles as provider, protector and presider, and emphasises women's roles as nurturer, helpmeet (or partner) and homemaker. Yet the C of E synod still thinks it can outvote God. Women do not need the priesthood to be equal to men, any more than men need to have babies in order to be equal to women. Further, to pretend that the Church of England is the Church of God is an insult to God. The Church of England as an institution and in most of its doctrine is almost unrecognisable from New Testament theology, and the divide only deepens as time goes by. From: Philip Williams, High Moor Crescent, Moortown, Leeds. I ENJOYED reading the Bishop of Wakefield's well-argued article on the case for women bishops (Yorkshire Post, January 17). The bishop rightly notes that the free churches had women ministers for many years before the Anglicans took the plunge. As a gracious and diplomatic Anglican, I wouldn't have expected him to point out the irony that many of these same free churches have proportionately far fewer female clergy than the Church of England. I can't speak for the Methodists and United Reformed Church, but I do know that women form a mere five per cent of Baptist Union ministers, despite that body being among the first to appoint women to these roles. Among the so-called new churches, it is even more rare to find women in leadership positions, although that is changing. What is the reason for this disparity, I wonder? Do Presbyterian or Congregational forms of church government militate against the appointment of women? I'm sure that the real reason isn't that given by one wag in my own Baptist congregation: "We've tried it for a lot longer and we know it doesn't work!" I hasten to add that I'm on the Bishop's side on this one. Flags and identity From: Keith Jowett, Woodland Rise, Silkstone Common, Barnsley. GORDON Brown's advocacy of the greater display of the Union flag and of the concept of being British has provoked some debate. During and immediately after the Second World War, the only national flags that I remember seeing on display were invariably the Union Flags. The rise of Scottish and Welsh nationalism, and the increased television coverage of sporting events involving our countries. has produced a wider display of the individual banners of these countries, and the flag of St George is now seen displayed in England as much as the Union Flag. These banners have become something of a tribal display, whether the "tribe" be a national team or a political grouping. However, the display is not necessarily synonymous with one's concept of nationhood. The latter is much more complex and multi-layered. Perhaps only at times of national crisis do we all claim to be British. For myself, I feel first and foremost that I am a Yorkshireman, then English and only finally as British. If I were from Sheffield, I might take this further and identify first as a "Blade" or an "Owl". My friends in France have no problem with the nationality of the inhabitants of our isles, lumping us all together as Les Anglais, much to the disgust of Scottish, Irish and Welsh visitors. Give Freckles a chance From: M Urquhart, Goathland, Whitby. I WISH to complain about the last few episodes of Coronation Street, in which Freckles, who is undoubtedly a border terrier, is shown to be savage and aggressive, and to have bitten one of the characters (Ken Barlow). This is most unfair to the breed. It is 60 years since I got my first border terrier, and I have had one ever since - when one dies I get another. I have never known them to be anything but friendly and good natured. I have never had any problems. I should like this slur on the breed to be removed in subsequent episodes. Ken Barlow should stop being such a wimp, and Freckles should be shown to be a happy, jolly little dog, which I am sure he is. Council's false economy From: Colin Robinson, Causeway Head Road, Dore, Sheffield. I AM one of the 200 residents opposed to Sheffield Council's scheme for Dore ("Village battle over one-way system", Yorkshire Post, January 6). However, it appears from that report that our concerns will be trodden underfoot to save money The only viable scheme will cost GBP200,000, compared with only GBP25,000 for the council's ill-thought-out proposals, and it seems that the economic argument must take precedence. This puts the historic cost of each accident at less than GBP900; this is admittedly less than GBP7,000 per accident for the "proper" scheme, but who can put a cost on human injury/death, traffic snarl-ups/delays etc? Whatever they do, it is for the long haul - not a temporary few years' fix. Why can't the council recognise that they should implement the sensible solution, rather than the low-cost one? Examining whether there is life in comets From: Dr Milton Wainwright, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield. My fellow Sheffield University scientist, Professor David Hughes, seems convinced that no life exists in comets ("Stardust comes down to earth" Yorkshire Post, January 16). However, the eminent astronomers, Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe, have long held that life occurs in comets, and thus clearly disagree with the view that cometary conditions are too extreme for life to exist. The Stardust samples may settle this question once and for all. In order to do this, however, it is to be hoped that the matter is not prejudged and that microbiologists, like myself, will get a chance to scrutinise the NASA Stardust data in its entirety. Only then will we be confident that no evidence for microbial life is overlooked. Points Making the right choice From: Stanley Challenger Graham, East Hill Street. Barnoldswick. I have to report a serious life change. After spending over 50 years as a Manchester Guardian reader, I rebelled last Friday against paying outrageous prices for the privilege of throwing 80 per cent of what I had paid for into the recycling bin. I decided to try the Yorkshire Post and I'm happy to report that after almost a week I am very comfortable with a paper that has got the balance of news and comment about right. I also like the way you follow a story day to day, especially the regional news. My main problem with The Guardian is that they have fallen into the trap of believing that Westminster village and London-centric news is all that matters and that we are all obsessed with "lifestyle". Thanks for a refreshing change, I think you have a permanent conversion. Gateway landmark From: Patricia Bowman, Prince of Wales Terrace, Scarborough. HAVING looked at the ideas for the new "Gateway to Yorkshire" landmark by the Humber Bridge (Yorkshire Post, January 14), I will vote for the unnamed orb by Peter Layton Associates. Thinking about the choice took some time, the ideas portrayed are just marvellous - so apt. We are blessed with much artistic talent. I enjoy the Yorkshire Post and so do my family when they visit (from Somerset and Kew). Before living in Scarborough, we always read the Daily Telegraph, but when my husband died I needed a change. I haven't regretted it. Time to resist the radio bullies From: J Huggan, Chatsworth Crescent, Pudsey, Leeds. I AM surprised that Tom Richmond should criticise Jo Swinson, the young Lib Dem MP (Yorkshire Post, January 14). If I'd been Jo Swinson, being repeatedly bullied by Stephen Nolan on Radio 5 Live (Saturday nights), I'd have told him to get lost. Presenters like Nolan bully guests into their way of thinking. He should be presenting and collating their views, not dominating them. He has got to be the most bombastic presenter on the radio. Blair bashing From: Eric Bamford, Kenwood Road, Sheffield. GENERAL Sir Michael Rose's call on a recent TV programme for Tony Blair to be impeached is totally justified. From being an ardent socialist, Blair has become a devotee of George Bush, just as Quisling became loyal to Adolf Hitler. Blair's outrageous disloyalty to Britain is so complete that he has even taken to walking like Bush, swinging his arms with his elbows stuck out at the side. He should be sent to the Tower without delay. |