Schools and colleges Ysgolion a cholegau Available to Purchase

Cardiganshire is relatively poor in public spending funds: there are so few people to tax and no hidden assets outside the tourist industry. But it would not be Wales if education wasn't given the highest priority. As one headmaster put it: ‘What little we have we are prepared to spend on education’. This sentiment re‐iterated by nearly every teacher is indicative of a communal dedication to giving their children the best chances — albeit to leave for England and the South — that is seldom apparent in the rest of the country. Part of this is the result of very close contact between administrators and teachers, and a remarkably unstratified society in which communications are still informal and effective. There is very little of the ‘them‐us’ feeling between teachers and administrators or between teachers, parents and children that you find in similar areas of England, eg the West Riding of Yorkshire where there is a very well meaning but paternalistic attitude evident in the hierachy. In Cardiganshire, and doubtless in Anglesey, Caernarvon, Merioneth, et al, there appears to be a grand communal conspiracy to do, with characteristic Welsh self‐confidence, what every one else seems to find so difficult — and it works. Just because it works so well it is very difficult for an outsider to criticize.