Time for staff and parents to stop blaming


If a teacher is suffering such anxiety, they must ask themselves 'am I in the right job'?

As an 83-year-old, and a former teacher, children are good psychologists and recognise weaknesses.

Growing up is a time for testing the waters of life, and the most essential and charitable action is to engage in conversation.

It is time for staff at St Ivo to look into their own actions before blaming pupils and parents.

For parents to look into their own culture and actions before blaming staff, and then parents and staff enter a conversation together to take the opportunity to bring about a calm, reasoned solution to the issue.

The head of the school, as the chosen representative of the managing academy, should chair that discussion, and not dictate.

It is about the whole ethos of the school, within which high quality education can take place, in order for students to have the confidence to say, at the end of their final term 'I am in awe to know ME' — Autonomy.

Philip Noble

By Email

 

We need people to get the shops

While wandering around St Neots on Saturday, March 11, we came across the Farmers' Market, and in particular, the town mayor on his stand.

He was trying to muster support for two things: views on the introduction of 20mph around the town, but also the charity gala.

May I add that you might want to reduce the speed limits to 20mph, but seeing as most drivers go over all the speed limits around the town now, how on earth are they going to implement the 20mph?

Unless you have a rash of cameras on every road, or heavens above, actual policemen stationed on these roads, then most drivers will ignore the speed limits.

I told our mayor that where we live, you can actually hear the 'boy racers' doing their circuit of the town, way before they pass our house, and they certainly are not abiding by any speed limit.

This matter was simply brushed away.

I then brought up about tree felling, and more importantly, tree planting. I was told that there had been some tree planted at the back of Priory Park, and behind a cemetery.

Simply not good enough, or enough trees, and when I brought this up and fought my point, again the mayor shrugged it off and again did not listen.

A few trees, in his eyes, solved that problem! I am sick and tired of hearing chain saws and finding the evidence of their activity.

It breaks me heart that we are loosing trees and greenery and he simply did not hear me.

The mayor did not like anyone contradicting his views and simply did not listen to me, or take my views and concerns on board.

He mentioned what a lovely town we have, to which I scoffed and said that all the banks are closing, the town is full of coffee shops and vaping places.

The chances of getting women’s wear is  almost gone and whilst I know the council cannot ask shops to open here, they can make the business rates more attractive and reduce car park charges, or even make the first 30 minutes free!

You need to get people in to make the shops come.

After all. I am a resident of this once lovely town, and simply want to get the town back on track.

The mayor is, after all, our representative. Someone who fights the concerns of the residents to the powers-that-be.

Any concern or matter that affects the town residents, should be a concern or matter for him. Those chains of office are not just bling, but a symbol of office that should be able to help.

Mr mayor: you might be happy pushing your gala, but there are more pressing things happening here in St Neots. Things that really need your full attention. You need to listen.

S Critcher

 

I am writing regarding the extensive removal of well-established hedge opposite the site of the new Wintringham estate on Cambridge Road, St Neots.

I was shocked and appalled to see that the entire hedge was raised to the ground right up to the roundabout with the A428.

Not only was I confused, as I was under the impression that there was a law to prevent removal of habitat during nesting time of year, but also that it appears to be impossible to build houses alongside a hedge, it does not need to be eradicated!

I suspect they may later plant hundreds of foot-high plants, of which many will die due to neglect, that will take 20 years-plus to be of any use to our small birds and small mammals, unfortunately these animals cant wait 20 years!

I was also dismayed to see the reduction of habitat along the A428, for the second year at nesting time, this appears to have mostly been done at night, and by stealth.

In my opinion it has been done to reduce the effect on traffic I expect, but I personally feel that it also reduces the community/local people from being able to question this assault on the environment, at a time when our flora and fauna are in great decline and struggling with climate change. Why is this being allowed?

Is anyone challenging this?

I suspect that no one cares.

Elaine Hutcheson

St Neots