Guidance is key to science career choices

In reply to the news report (The Yorkshire Post, February 23) regarding the imbalance of girls choosing science and technological careers, the research conclusions made by the Adecco Group are not new.

A large number of schools have embraced the STEM (Science, Technology and Mathematics) philosophy, but whilst the choice of subjects made at different transitional points remains in the ownership of the young person, the key factor is professional, informed guidance given at the appropriate stages in a young person’s education.

It should be delivered by professionally trained personnel in an unbiased way, reinforced by relevant labour market intelligence and the differing progression pathways to university choice, apprenticeships and vocational courses.

Any subject/course choice should also reflect possible career paths at a later stage. Good examples of careers for non-science subject entrants are engineering and medicine.

Heads of all institutions should give priority to strong careers guidance systems so the necessary encouragement and motivation is given to all boys and girls.

Strengthen hunting law

From: John Rimington BSc, Technical Liaison Officer, Hare Preservation Trust, Somerset.

Rational and sensible people are proven to be living, unlike others, in the 21st century by campaigning for the retention and strengthening of the 2004 Hunting with Dogs Act. One of the animals benefiting from this legislation is our iconic, but appallingly persecuted brown hare, listed in a 2011 zoology report as one of our native species most at risk of extinction by 2050. The brown hare has declined nationally by over 80 per cent since 1880.

A third of hunts in England and Wales are hare hunts – nothing to do with foxes – and repeat polls by Ipsos Mori show that now 88 per cent of people, equally both urban and country dwellers, are opposed to the primitive use of pack dogs to pursue to exhaustion and senselessly kill inoffensive hares just for human adrenalin-fuelled entertainment.

The 2004 Act very importantly also outlaws the archaic activity of hare coursing, where two fast dogs are set after one poor hare in a so-called sporting “spectacle”, often accompanied by betting on the dogs involved. Even if the hare manages to escape being used as a live “rope” between the dogs it is likely to subsequently die from the crippling effects of stress myopathy brought on by the trauma of the whole process.

Integration is the answer

From: Bob Watson, Springfield Road, Baildon.

A survey finds that almost half of Muslims living in Britain believe prejudice against Islam makes it difficult for them to follow their faith (The Yorkshire Post, February 26).

One initially wonders why there is such concern about Islam from the rest of the population, but perhaps part of the answer is in that same survey. This recorded that 27 per cent of British Muslims have sympathy with the Charlie Hebdo slaughter in Paris, and that apparently relates to 800,000 Muslims. Further, 11 per cent (330,000) have sympathy for those fighting against the West; and 20 per cent (600,000) believe Islam can never be compatible with Western democracy.

From these numbers one can well understand the concerns held by so many non-Muslims, who wonder where it might be leading.

There is still an impression, rightly or wrongly, that too many Muslims simply do not want to fully integrate with British society, and are happy to speak and dress as they would do in old homelands, and also to pursue some third world practices that do not go down well in the UK.

If these things change, and views mellow, then so might the unfortunate prejudices.

Fears over a Cold War

From: Arthur Quarmby, Underhill, Holme.

I FIND I must disagree with Sir Bernard Ingham, who fears that Russia might perhaps be tempted to “nibble at” the Baltic states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia (The Yorkshire Post, February 25).

Does he not realise that all these Baltic states have already been gobbled up into the German empire, which is shoving itself into the Russian heartland via Ukraine, thus igniting the civil war which is still raging there?

And to send British soldiers into this situation will be a catastrophe. Are we really so desperate to recreate the Cold War?

Safeguarding the status quo

From: Terry Palmer, Hoyland, Barnsley.

Looks like ‘Posh’ Dave’s got his way once again. This time allowing MPs to continue doing as many jobs as they like as well as being paid as an MP.

The vote on the subject was carried by 68 votes, which means MPs of other parties must have voted to continue with this corrupt practice also. Who benefits most? Surprise, surprise the Tories, the majority of whom have always had other business jobs. No wonder ‘Posh’ Dave and the rest of their front bench millionaires don’t want change.