Pioneering women (From York Press)

Pioneering women

10:22am Saturday 12th January 2013 in Letters By Readers' letters

SO MICHAEL GOVE is seeking to remove Mary Seacole’s name from school curriculum, re Christian Vassie’s letter of January 9.

Mary tried to get help from the government of her day and Florence Nightingale, but to no avail. She worked as much to help the wounded soldiers at the Crimean as anyone.

Instead of removing her name, more women and their work should be studied at school, for example, Elizabeth Fry and prison reform, Barbara Bodichon, who campaigned for women to keep own property after marriage, and Dorothy Beale and Frances Buss, who were pioneers of secondary education for women.

These are only four of the many women from the past who should be looked up to and admired and not forgotten.

Mrs M Robinson, Broaday, York.
 

• I WOULD suggest that Christian Vassie’s dismay at the likely removal of Mary Seacole from the history curriculum (Letters, January) is largely inappropriate.

While undoubtedly being a figure of some interest, she hardly deserves to be of special reference within the context of the teaching of British history in our schools.

Of rather more concern is the fact that large swathes of students have for too long been taught a politically correct version of history rather than a true narrative of our unique and wonderful island heritage.

As a result, many youngsters are unaware of historically significant figures such as the great Sir Winston Churchill, their only understanding of the name being a dog which sells insurance.

Martin Smith, Main Street, Elvington, York.