Wednesday's Letters: Put history back on the curriculum and unite our nation

Later that day, I watched the Festival of Remembrance on TV. On Sunday, I presided at a Church Service of Remembrance and also saw on TV much of the Act of Remembrance at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

It appears that all acts of Remembrance have been very well-attended this year. This should not come as a surprise, I think, when one remembers all which has happened and is happening to keep our United Kingdom free for all who live here.

I was disappointed to see that it appeared that the vast majority taking part in both televised events were indigenous white people.

Perhaps this has something to do with history no longer being taught in schools and, hence, many recent immigrants not being aware of the of the debt we all owe to those who have kept this land free, more or less, since the Normans landed in 1066?

So, Mr Gove, Education Secretary, please put history back into the curriculum of every school and so help to unite our nation in its thanks for all who have given us our freedom.

From: Canon Michael Storey, Healey Wood Road, Brighouse.

From: Terry Duncan, Greame Road, Bridlington, East Yorkshire.

I LEFT school at the age of 15, with a Scottish Junior Leaving

Certificate, and was dispatched to a UK Government-sponsored apprentice scheme to learn to be an electrical engineer dealing with heavy switchgear, transformers, motors etc, along with every evening at the local college to study the physics of such and also draughtsmanship.

Fifty-five years on, I now know how to change a plug, sort out a broken-down carpet cleaner or mend the mower.

But I cannot understand the intelligence of the students of the year 2010. Nothing to do with marches and destruction.

It is why university students of today cannot answer general knowledge questions when they appear on TV quiz shows, which I now watch from the sedentary position of my settee.

Recently, on an early evening BBC programme, we had two history students who got every question – yes, on history – wrong. Likewise, two medical students did not know the most simple parts of the body, with one explaining she was only in her first year at university.

Should I donate my ancient body when it expires in years to come?

From: David Quarrie, Lynden Way, Holgate, York.

THOSE Muslims who set fire to a poppy on Armistice Day (Yorkshire Post, November 12) need to stop and think how much damage they are doing to the "tolerance" of the host nation, which has bent over backwards to accommodate, and accept and allow their faith to prosper here in England.

There are limits and "enough is enough".

From: KM Herbert, Bluebell Avenue, Penistone, Sheffield.

THE behaviour by Muslims on Armistice Day was atrocious and should not be tolerated by the British people.

The Conservative Party was put into office to protect the people of the UK and their beliefs. No way is this being achieved.

Pay goes up as hospital standards fall

From: Dr Robert Heys, Bar Lane, Ripponden, Halifax.

UNLESS the monitoring of hospital services by regulatory bodies improves, I fear treatment of the aged ("Elderly patients suffer needless harm as hospitals fail care test," Yorkshire Post, November 11) is unlikely to improve.