Lardner's Prime

Reading the letter from Philip Lardner about his feelings towards his treatment by the Conservative Party and his Ayrshire candidature (Letters, 4 May), I couldn't help thinking of parallels between his scorn and that of Miss Jean Brodie towards that other conservative institution, Marcia Blaine school.

I could almost hear Miss Brodie's scurl: "Do you realise what has happened? I have been dismissed from Marcia Blaine!" The language in Mr Lardner's letter – "scandalous and unjustified", and "subjugated by the state and an agenda of militant left-wing views deviously implemented via the Trojan horse of equality" – would have made an excellent exchange in headmistress Miss Mackay's office as Miss Brodie vainly fought to push back the Establishment view.

Miss Brodie's independent mind and disregard for the curriculum and board policies ultimately got her excommunicated, with appeals falling on deaf ears.

I think the dangerous Miss Brodie may have been more understanding than Mr Lardner if Jenny, Monica or Mary Macgregor had been a lesbian. In our more enlightened, 21st-century society, we now understand that homosexuality cannot be taught.

This may be at odds with some scripture, however some children are actually gay, and "ignorance of culture and the Italian scene" can make for a rather intolerant and narrow society.

STEVE WEBSTER

Greenrigg Cottages

Harthill, Shotts