Lies,Damn Lies, Statistics and Opinion Polls

The Berwickshire has a series of running polls on every conceivable subject from Ber Wick 'returning' to Scotland to the merits of wind farms in the Lammermuirs.

One is of some historical interest with regard to the closing of Eccles Primary School as part of a round of schools closures in the Borders which sunk Hutton. The question was


Is Scottish Borders Council right to keep Eccles school open?

75% said yes and 25 % said no

Now that may have not been the right answer for the Highheidyins in St Boswells so the question was cunningly rephrased (by some stickler for Borders Grammer, as she/it/they is/are writ?)



Are Scottish Borders right to keep Eccles school open?

Vote Results Yes 0% No 0%

Great result for the Educational Gurus who could go around saying, quite truthfully, on the basis of this poll that no one wants to keep the school open.

As it happened the school was not closed-a triumph for the 75% who voted in the wrong poll. But no one asked a question about Hutton.

Its like the old chestnut. What is more correct?:

Yokes of Eggs are white

or

Yokes of Eggs is white.

If you don't know, ask your local councillor.

If it is Big Jim Fullarton.

Ask someone else.


Incredibly, Flickr has no image of Hutton School-nor is there one in my 137strong collection of pictures of the village. So this photo of a Toad, seen crossing the main road, not far from the school will just have to do. Apologies

Labels: Big Jim Fullarton, Eccles, Hutton School, Scottish Borders

  ¶ 10:37 AM