SIR – In Monday’s T&A there was a piece about children’s Urdu books available in Shipley Library.
MP Philip Davies said Bradford has one of the lowest educational attainment levels in the country, and one reason for this is that many children cannot speak or read English before they go to school, and this will disadvantage them in later life. All this information is worrying, and it is right that an MP should pick up on it.
Councillor the Reverend Paul Flowers, Bradford Council’s executive member for culture, tourism and sport, was very rude about Philip Davies, but his reply it had no connection to what the MP was saying. How much is this executive member paid to not listen to an argument?
His reply was: “We all know that proficiency in a second language is a superb way to broaden young minds.”
The thing is that English is the second language for these children, not Urdu.
He then said Philip Davies would not wish us to dispense with books in French, German, Italian or Welsh. Unfortunately, Shipley Library has no books in these languages for children – shame he didn’t listen and get his facts right first.
Mrs Little, Wharncliffe Road, Shipley
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