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The Herald Scotland

Stop the carnage: make cat owners keep their pets under control

Surely the time has come to stop people just throwing their pets out to look after themselves. Cats are born hunters, that's what they do. The trouble is the owners who allow their pets to cruelly kill their prey. The problem is the strong cat ownership lobby, and this appears to stop strong legislation taking place. It will have to be put in place in the future; why not now? In Australia roaming cats in certain states are banned after some species have become extinct. In the UK there would not be a problem if house cats were the norm. However, cat owners appear to be in denial and would support their right to allow their fluffy pets to kill whenever they can. Dog owners are duty-bound to keep their pets under control. Cat owners should be made to do the same. Matthew Sneddon, Bearsden. Read more letters Seeking to right NI wrongs I am trying to contact those women and their loved ones who have suffered great historical injustices in institutions in Northern Ireland. My appeal is to them right across the world (Neil Mackay: "Thought of what happened to my gran in a Magdalene Laundry haunts me" heraldscotland, August 3). This year we, the politicians in Northern Ireland, have the opportunity to right a great wrong of the 20th century, imposed upon young women in mother and baby institutions, Magdalene laundries and workhouses between 1922 and1995. We have launched an international appeal to victims and survivors of these institutions, asking for their views on legislation to establish a public inquiry and financial redress scheme. Both are aimed at addressing the terrible wrongs done to them during one of the most distressing and hurtful episodes in our history. The Inquiry (Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses) and Redress Scheme Bill was introduced to the Northern Ireland Assembly in June 2025. Our scrutiny of it has begun and as part of our work, we are asking those who will be directly affected by the legislation to respond to an online consultation. We want as many as possible to have their say before it closes at the end of September. The consultation is available online here: but we can also email or post hard copies to anyone who is interested. Email us at: cteotrconsultation@ You can also contact the Committee for the Executive Office by writing to us at Room 247, Parliament Buildings, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT4 3XX. Paula Bradshaw MLA, Chairperson, Committee for the Executive Office, Northern Ireland Assembly, Belfast. Teaching to the test I see that the old chestnut of 'teaching to the test' is raising its head again as the new head of the SQA takes up his role ("New chief executive backs reform of exams", The Herald, August 9). Would I be correct in thinking that a well-designed curriculum or course is defined by a set of suitable and appropriate criteria, stated as 'objectives', "content and skills', 'benchmarks' or whatever? If I am correct, I assume that these criteria will be tested, examined or assessed in some form and at agreed frequencies. I also assume, therefore, that teachers will focus on ensuring that they focus on the criteria and use an appropriate means to determine how well their students are meeting them. In my experience, able teachers have been following that arrangement for years. Therefore, if a course is well designed and includes relevant content and skills or processes – let's hope that the balance and interaction between them is sound – and the means of determining whether they are being taught, learned and achieved are agreed, then, essentially, are teachers not ' teaching to the test'? Why do we continue to use these emotive terms? Why not focus on ensuring that courses are well designed, include effective means to determine their success, and incorporate the best technology that is available? GPD Gordon, Bearsden. Mute the music, please I enjoy watching documentaries and factual programmes on my television. Three programmes in particular that I tried to watch recently were Humans, Parenthood and The Antiques Roadshow. These are beautifully-photographed, educational programmes and considerable research has gone into making them. Why then do we have to suffer orchestral music which has been added in an effort to enhance the show? This has the effect of taking over the programme, making the presenter's voice inaudible and has meant me having on numerous occasions to use the subtitles,which has the effect of blocking out some of the programme. I am fortunate to have reasonable hearing and good eyesight. I wish the producers of these programmes would take time to listen to their work and realise that we don't need an audio background to enhance them. Neil Stewart, Balfron. Is there anything wrong with teaching to the test? (Image: PA) Why did Berlin outscore us? As in previous years, The National Youth Orchestra of Scotland distinguished itself during a sell-out concert in Berlin's Konzerthaus last Wednesday (August 6). The audience response was impressive. The same programme had been performed in Scotland during the previous week where the audience was similarly appreciative, but sadly hugely depleted in numbers. I wish I could explain this discrepancy. David Rimer, Edinburgh. Running the gauntlet Your coverage of the Sandie Peggie tribunal has generated as much debate (online and offline) as I've ever come across in all the five decades I've been reading your newspaper. But it reminded me that as a young trainee in the late 1960s, I had to carry out the annual inspection of a large knitwear factory in Saltcoats in terms of the Factories Acts (staff welfare and the like). I always insisted the manager accompany me when I entered the women's changing area and toilets as I didn't want any of the (mostly female) workforce to actually do to me what their catcalls inferred. I had every right to go into these areas, but couldn't get out quick enough. How times have changed. John Crawford, Preston.