'Harvey Willgoose's mother highlights an important issue for schools' - Reader's letter
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Paige Turner, from S1, on school safety
Harvey Willgoose's mother highlights an important issue for schools and children at secondary school.
There needs to be a full investigation on a national basis into what enabled the horrific incident which took Harvey's life, and similar incidents nationwide.
Whilst not drawing any parallels between Harvey's death and this, it cannot be ignored the fact that school children are at times being put under unnecessary stress and anxiety through schools being far too strict with regards children's uniform, with reports of children being forced to work in isolation for trivial "offences" such as looking at staff in the wrong way, being loud in class or simply wearing the wrong kind of black socks or other uniform item.
Back when I was at secondary school, we were allowed for example on PE day to come to school in black trainers and black jogging bottoms or tracksuit bottoms without this violating uniform policy.
We were allowed in summer to wear black skirts or shorts. This exercising of basic common sense built a sense of trust between staff and students and with better communication between them.
The culture of fear which permeates many academy schools needs challenging and reigning in. Increased emphasis should be put on enabling a sense of belonging and allowing children to freely explore reading for pleasure and other hobbies.
Possession of weapons should result in immediate permanent exclusion.
I hope the city's MP's and councilors are helping Mrs. Wildgoose gain the closure she needs, wants and deserves after her sons tragic death.