Independence for Wales

Children should be taught in English, my three grandchildren
went to university, economics, law, criminal phycology, where
would they have a career if they had only been taught Welsh ?

The treatment of Welsh language speakers many years ago was appalling, I don’t think anyone would deny that. The point I am making is that if children who speak Welsh at home are also taught only through the medium of Welsh then their opportunities worldwide are limited by their poor English or another more widely spoken language.
We have to be realistic.

paddyanne lovely to hear about your neighbours’ children going to Gaelic schools. These wonderful languages should be preserved and can only survive through speaking and usage.

I don’t see the problem with sending out any information in both Welsh and English. In fact when I had my covid vaccination the information given was in several different languages. Just out of interest where I live there is a large Polish community and every official document is sent out in Welsh, English and Polish.

But its NOT England so why should they be taught in English?Nor are they a colony ,my Welsh aunt ,like ANNIES relative used to get her hands slapped or worse for speaking her own language .Just like Scots with the Gaelic who even as old men would apologise if they slipped into their native tongue ....that cant be right .My next door neighbours are from the islands and Gaelic speakers their GC go to gaelic school and its something they are delighted about and proud of that these children dont have to just speak it at home like some guilty secret

I very much respect the desire to preserve the ancient language but do think it’s wrong to teach only through that medium thereby limiting opportunity to Wales and Patagonia.
I agree LauraNorder

I think it is good to preserve the language, ensuring every school pupil in Wales is offered the opportunity to learn it to GCSE level and beyond. However, making it compulsory to GCSE level and, for example, sending out vital medical information to the general population in Welsh with the English translation presented as an after-thought is wrong imo.

It’s not about independence for the Welsh people and preserving the culture, language and traditions it’s about political power and always has been.

Just himself eh LauraNorder perhaps?
?

I’m not a fan Urms, he may look and sound very personable but he is pushing hard for independence and constantly critical of both the Westminster government and the Welsh government without offering constructive alternatives.

I was referring to the jibe about the First Minister in your first post Gwyneth. I don’t think the political environment in Wales is relevant to why people aren’t heavily in favour of independence, and the First Minister isn’t advocating it as the best way forward either?
I’m not in South Wales either, I’m in Powys, which is the real hinterlands (and proud!).

First of a three part series “The Story of Welsh Art” on BBC Four tonight at 9pm

Yes that’s him LauraNorder. Thanks. He is very listenable (is that even a word?).

I too think North Wales is ignored often

casdon I’m a bit confused here. Are you referring to my humorous reply to another poster re ‘the grass’ which I agree with you is probably irrelevant and not political or are you referring to my earlier comment re my non support for Welsh independence? I am a welsh speaker and live in an area which voted against the Welsh Assembly. We have a very robust and vigorous social life of Welsh speakers and embrace the wealth of poetry and prose in our Eisteddfodau which is our Welsh cultural heritage handed down from generation to generation for fifteen centuries. We also have excellent to schools in our area which teach through the medium of Welsh. On the downside as a result of the Welsh Assembly’s focus on South Wales we in the North are very much the ‘poor relations’. Independence, in my view would only exacerbate this situation. What have Plaid Cymru the party who are seeking independence done for us in the North? I am happy with being a part of the Union and the friends I have who are not Welsh have always respected our language and culture. Our rugby team are brilliant and heading towards a grand slam so I’m a very happy Welsh woman!

I don't think there is any strong desire for independence. There is little confidence among many in current performance of Welsh Assembly particularly with the pettiness of what can not be sold in shops at the moment.

Adam Price Urms

My four boys all attended a Welsh Language only secondary school. There was an English stream at first but in 1985 or 86 it became Welsh only and all subjects except English Language and English Literature were taught through the medium of Welsh. Three of the four went to English universities. I think that English being their home language helped. Some of their friends who also spoke only Welsh at home either went to Welsh universities or didn’t go on to further education.
I very much respect the desire to preserve the ancient language but do think it’s wrong to teach only through that medium thereby limiting opportunity to Wales and Patagonia.
There needs to be balance.

I read today there’s 2 schools that are going to be Welsh speaking only from September?

Plaid Cymru leader (nice guy I can’t remember his name, sorry) was on tv a couple of weeks ago saying Wales will be like Scotland in 10 years’ time. With respect, I don’t think so. Obviously it’s what his aim is but I don’t think there’s the overall appetite,

Our language was banned, my grandfather was hit for speaking Welsh in school. Welsh is now an official language of
the U.K.

We battled through many strikes, Churchill sent troupes - the
Tonypandy Riots .

Cymru am Byth ???????

Happy St David's day to all our Welsh friends

I'm Welsh and I don't want independence. I never wanted devolution either and I definitely didn't want to leave Europe.

I also agree with Casdon about Welshness, a tremendous pride in their heritage, culture, language, traditions and dare I say sport , especially following the win against England in the rugby. If English people can respect that pride, we’ll all rub along a while longer, I hope.

I agree with Casdon, there isn’t really an appetite for independence in Wales. Wales couldn’t afford to go it alone even if it wanted to.
Plaid Cymru are the nationalist party pushing for independence and Labour seem to have jumped on this bandwagon because they fear losing votes to PC in my opinion.
Most of the Welsh people in my sphere seem happy with the union, although not so much with Boris Johnson. They also are pretty staunch royalists which always surprises me.
Wales is historically anti Tory and so any survey is going to say that the First Minister is handling the corona virus crisis better than the Prime Minister, as reported today.
People forget which government it was that ensured we had vaccine for all and how slow the roll out was in Wales initially. Although now ahead of the field with our much smaller population.

I’ll be honest Gwyneth and say I think your comment is irrelevant. It’s got nothing at all to do with politics in my opinion. Welsh people are incredibly proud of the heritage of our country, culture and traditions, sport, language, and the sheer beauty of the place. Being Welsh is enough. It wouldn’t make any difference to people’s views on independence if the Sky Blue Pink Party was in charge, it’s just isn’t a motivator. Feel free to disagree or not.

The last bit of your comment really made me laugh timetogo as I’ve never heard the bit ‘the bugger needs cutting’ ?