Concern over 'reduced-Welsh in our school'
Post categories: Denbigh, Denbighshire, Hot Topics, Learning Welsh, Ruthin
| 15:19 UK time, Monday, 4 June 2007
The apparent reduced amount of Welsh being taught at English-medium Denbigh High School is causing a massive debate in the town.
In fact, weekly newspaper the www.denbighshirefreepress.co.uk has received plenty of opinions from community leaders, parents and other contributors to its letters pages.
Among them is the Letter of the Week in which one contributor writes under the headline 'School's anti-Welsh policy saddens me'.
Meanwhile, there are lots more views submitted via the newspaper's Letters page.
Retired deputy head Einir Owen started the debate, claiming the school is failing to promote Welsh. But the level of Welsh taught at Key Stage Three and in the sixth form has not been cut, according to new headteacher Alison Duncan - but there has been minor reduction at Key Stage Four due to budget pressures, she told the Free Press.
This was always going to be a contentious issue - and one which is raised time and again on our site [Welsh language debate ] regarding the amount of time spent teaching / learning Welsh in English-medium secondary schools.
© MMX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~29~RS~)
I see fellow blogger, http://rhuthun.blogspot.com [Our Local Secondary, Saturday June 2] defends neighbouring bilingual school, Ysgol Brynhyfryd, Ruthin, after a similar concern was raised.
It is never bad to learn more than one language. Language is strongly connected with intelligence, and those who learn many languages are usually more open and flexible. And when the knowledge of Welsh is in demand, I can't believe that some people argue abuot the level of Welsh taught :-(
For info, this debate took a twist yesterday amid news that tour operator Thomas Cook has banned staff from speaking Welsh in the office if their conversation is to do with work. The issue is being discussed on our messageboard:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbtalkwales/F2697583?thread=4226544&skip=0&show=20#p49678347