View Full Version : Caithness Councillors are NOT? against Gaelic
skytalker
07-May-08, 21:33
Tonight there was a meeting in the Pennyland Primary School regarding the provision of Gaelic Medium Education in Thurso. All 10 local councillors were invited to the meeting to discuss the matter and also to meet with Hamish Fraser, Chairman of the Gaelic committee. Bill Fernie and Willie Mackay turned up, John Rosie put in his apologies, and as for the rest – not a peep. I wonder if there would have been the same turn out if the meeting was with regards to Gaelic sign-posts.
The good news is that providing they can hire a teacher with the correct qualifications, Gaelic Medium Education will be available in Pennyland Primary School. This provision is, of course, open to all children in the Thurso area who would like their children to have a bilingual education, regardless to whether or not their child knows Gaelic.
They must of been getting there photo taken for the paper by the time Willie Mackay turned up:roll:
'S e obair la toiseachadh
Whitewater
07-May-08, 23:05
I have no objection to the provision of Gaelic in our schools, it is always good to broaden the minds of our children. The one thing that many of the Gaelic speakers forget is that the language was not widely used in Caithness, this part of the country was never classed as being in the Highlands, we were always more akin with Orkney & Shetland and the Norwegian influence of the northern islands.
Although we now have accepted the wearing of the kilt to identify ourselves as being
Scottish, in the past it was not really part of the northern dress, and even today it is hardly worn in Orkney, even less in Shetland. In view of our past history I fail to see why we should have Gaelic signposts forced upon us.
...as with many things it should be choice not coercion
Boozeburglar
07-May-08, 23:35
I don't see what is wrong with having consistent signage across the Highlands and Islands area. Is Gaelic a minority language or not; that is the only question on a national level.
No one seems to complain about the German or French on some of our signs.
Very picky if you ask me, all the signs are probably fabricated in the same place. It would probably cost more to have two separate streams running.
Perhaps we should think about removing standard English from all our road signs; as it was never the traditional language in Caithness.
..remembering that French/German etc on road signs are generally for safety reasons (ie drive on left signs next to tourist spots where people maybe temporarily forgetful of driving on the other side) rather than place names
When are we getting the Polish road signs?
After all, there's more native Polish speakers in the highlands than gaelic...........
Perhaps we should think about removing standard English from all our road signs; as it was never the traditional language in Caithness.Perhaps we should think about removing standard English from our forum; as it was never the traditional language in Caithness.
I look forward to reading all future posts from you in Gaelic. :cool:
Slainte Mhath!
Moi x
skytalker
08-May-08, 08:45
I did this post as the councillors of Caithness had a chance to prove that they are not anti-Gaelic and didn’t do it.
As for the sign posts, the Gaelic Language bill 2005 made Gaelic the official language of Scotland and like it or not, we are a part of Scotland.
This topic was done to death not long ago re: roadsigns. There are lots of points of view there, that'd be the place to look first.
Children learn French at school so why not learn gaelic? Whilst it may not have been spoken all over Scotland it is still part of the heritage of this country.
Tonight there was a meeting in the Pennyland Primary School regarding the provision of Gaelic Medium Education in Thurso. All 10 local councillors were invited to the meeting to discuss the matter and also to meet with Hamish Fraser, Chairman of the Gaelic committee. Bill Fernie and Willie Mackay turned up, John Rosie put in his apologies, and as for the rest – not a peep. I wonder if there would have been the same turn out if the meeting was with regards to Gaelic sign-posts.
The good news is that providing they can hire a teacher with the correct qualifications, Gaelic Medium Education will be available in Pennyland Primary School. This provision is, of course, open to all children in the Thurso area who would like their children to have a bilingual education, regardless to whether or not their child knows Gaelic.
How many parents turned up?
skytalker
09-May-08, 10:53
3 parents turned up as we went to the meeting believing that as in past years we were going to be fobbed off. Also 4 of the parents are single parents, living in the Mount Pleasant area. Now because Mount Pleasant didn't want the Gaelic Medium Education Unit and there is still controvacy over transport for our children to Pennyland they are thinking of pulling out.
So it could be that the new unit will open with only 3 pupils, which it the reason that I stress that the unit is open to any pupil in Caithness who want bilingual education for their children.
3 parents turned up as we went to the meeting believing that as in past years we were going to be fobbed off. Also 4 of the parents are single parents, living in the Mount Pleasant area. Now because Mount Pleasant didn't want the Gaelic Medium Education Unit and there is still controvacy over transport for our children to Pennyland they are thinking of pulling out.
So it could be that the new unit will open with only 3 pupils, which it the reason that I stress that the unit is open to any pupil in Caithness who want bilingual education for their children.
With all the cuts in education this seems to be an expensive option for 3 pupils!
skytalker
09-May-08, 14:03
The provision of Gaelic Medium Education is something that parents have been fighting for, for the last 11 years. We had a meeting with Graham Nichols and informed him at that time that there were 9 children for the unit and told him that we should open this to the public in case there were other parents who wanted Bilingual education for their child. He told us that that wouldn’t be necessary and so that is the reason that the class was always going to be small.
2 families are moving out of the area and the rest have slowly pulled out due to uncertainties. At this moment I still don’t know whether or not I should take my child to Mount Pleasant or Pennyland as the school she is going to be going to and won’t know until the week school breaks up. Also there is the transport issue as most children that go to the Croileagan Nursery are from the Mount Pleasant area. Parents need to know and we still don’t know what is happening and that has resulted in parents deciding now where there child is going. The problems will of course all be resolved for next year.
The way I see it, IF the gaelic class goes ahead, it is THE PARENT that wants their child to attend even if it is outwith their local school area and the parent still expects FREE transport for their kids to the school? Funds for schools are tight enough without that. IF you want your child to attend a specialist subject class that isn't a requirement, but an extra the parent should take the responsibility of transporting their children back and forth. (I personally think that Rapson's should do away with the bus for high school pupils that live within Thurso. The government complains about kids getting fat, here is one easy way to promote exercise for pupils and they don't do it).
Well im sorry guys i just think its a waste of money hireing a teacher to teach Gaelic for a langauge thats only any use in small parts of scotland its of no real benifit to the kids it would be far spent teaching the kids something more constructive to the everyday life .And if it has to be a langauge why not sign langauge
Well i'm sorry guys, i just think it's a waste of money hiring a teacher to teach Gaelic for a language that's only any use in small parts of scotland and of no real benefit to the kids. It would be far spent teaching the kids something more constructive to everyday life and if it has to be a language, why not sign langauge?Are there more deaf people than Gaelic speakers?
Are there more deaf people than Gaelic speakers?
I would think so.
And definately this "language" is far more benificial to modern day life in Caithness/Highlands/Scotland.
The provision of Gaelic Medium Education is something that parents have been fighting for, for the last 11 years. We had a meeting with Graham Nichols and informed him at that time that there were 9 children for the unit and told him that we should open this to the public in case there were other parents who wanted Bilingual education for their child. He told us that that wouldn’t be necessary and so that is the reason that the class was always going to be small.
2 families are moving out of the area and the rest have slowly pulled out due to uncertainties. At this moment I still don’t know whether or not I should take my child to Mount Pleasant or Pennyland as the school she is going to be going to and won’t know until the week school breaks up. Also there is the transport issue as most children that go to the Croileagan Nursery are from the Mount Pleasant area. Parents need to know and we still don’t know what is happening and that has resulted in parents deciding now where there child is going. The problems will of course all be resolved for next year.I was just wondering...
Are you a Gaelic speaker?
If so, are you a native or a learner?
If not, why do you want your child to have a Gaelic medium education?
I'm not being judgemental here, I'm genuinely interested.
Moi x
Are there more deaf people than Gaelic speakers?
imagine if sign langauge was taught right across europe as standard in all schools what a difference it would make for deaf people communicating and also anyone trying to communicate to another person that speaks a different langauge
3 parents turned up .
So there is nothing to debate. Let's forget Gaelic medium education.
The good news is that providing they can hire a teacher with the correct qualifications, Gaelic Medium Education will be available in Pennyland Primary School. This provision is, of course, open to all children in the Thurso area who would like their children to have a bilingual education, regardless to whether or not their child knows Gaelic.
Wouldn’t it be more useful for kids to learn French, Spanish, or Japanese or something?
imagine if sign langauge was taught right across europe as standard in all schools what a difference it would make for deaf people communicating and also anyone trying to communicate to another person that speaks a different langauge
What a fantastic idea Eddie. You could sign to anyone, regardless of the language they spoke, if we could all sign.
Good idea, we could all sign!
Even better, the whole world could learn English. Oops, that's happening already. :cool:
Moi x
Good idea, we could all sign!
Even better, the whole world could learn English.....
Sign what exactly? Another petition perhaps.....
I'd be supportive of "Sign Language" gaining a foothold on the mainstream education curriculum if I was convinced that the majority had even grasped the basics of the English language.
Sign what exactly? Another petition perhaps.....Makes mental note to self: I must try to express myself more clearly. :o
I'd be supportive of "Sign Language" gaining a foothold on the mainstream education curriculum if I was convinced that the majority had even grasped the basics of the English language.May I repeat my previous response? :o
I've seen many, many claims that a bilingual educational environment enhances use and appreciation of grammar and language. I might believe it for the more able pupils but I think it's more likely to confuse the less talented ones.
Moi x
skytalker
11-May-08, 09:24
So there is nothing to debate. Let's forget Gaelic medium education.
You failed to take in the fact that the number has dwindled due to the lack of information from 'those that be'. The number was much more and the Gaelic nursery is full with children whose parents want the Gaelic medium education for their child, so I don't think it should just be dismissed out of had. Also if Inverness is anything to go by it has one primary school, another 2 are to be built and the High School takes the education further. So it looks like Gaelic is the up and coming language.
I am a learner of Gaelic. Have been doing my family tree and Gaelic is my heritage.
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.