Write to the editor

Here are some observations about my recent stay in the Kingdom of Bahrain. I was not sure what to expect so had an open mind when I came here.

I travel a lot teaching swimming technique and am blessed to see many parts of the world. Bahrain surprised me!

Many cultures blend here to make a very harmonious environment and everyone I met seemed genuinely friendly. It’s also very clean and modern.

As for the swimmers and triathletes I have been working with … they were eager to learn and enthusiastic!

I had fun experiencing the culture and making a lot of friends which is always my favourite part of travel. I hope to come back very soon.

Karlyn Pipes,
By email.

* Editor’s note: Karlyn is one of the world’s most celebrated swimmers and was a guest of the Bahrain Triathlon Club coaching athletes of all ages, as featured on the back page of last week’s issue

I read with interest your report on last week’s front page about St Christopher’s School parents campaigning against the proposed compulsory demand that they provide all their children with electronic gadgets for the classroom.

Your readers may wish to note that the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development study revealed ‘there is no single country in which the internet is used frequently at school by a majority of students and where students’ performance improved’.

However, I would suggest parents are being slightly naïve if they think this fact will lead to a rethink over the proposal. It was of little surprise that the ‘school declined to comment’ … the sound of silence from the principal, head teachers and board of governors is deafening.

Ironic that without compulsory laptops and iPads, as you so recently reported, the school has been celebrating ‘outstanding’ academic success.

To find out what parents really think I suggest you check out the online forum https://www.expat-blog.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=456521 where the cost of providing this equipment, particularly for those with two or more children, is a major worry on top of paying the school fees.

A concerned parent,
Saar.

Dear footgolfers, we are going to start our official playing season in October. The first draft of the events calendar is looking promising – we are going to have different, fun and serious tournaments every single week. Get your balls ready. The big league is coming!

George Lodge,
Royal Golf Club