Scottish tidies in Schools

[rich47]

The Scottish Government wants to introduce a course of Scottish Studies
in schools.
This would include Scottish history, literature, culture and so forth.
Labour opposition politicians claim that this amounts to "brainwashing" to a
SNP agenda.
When ever was education about one's country's history brainwashing.
What are these Labour losers worried about?
Perhaps the "parcel of rogues" who sold Scotland out those many years ago
have reincarnated.

[emmie]

rich47 good evening if you are still around, looks like another debate about the Scots and the English, do wish that didn't happen, we should be able to have a debate without the usual i know best because i've been there brigade.
nice to see you back, the butler sends his best.

[rich47]

Thanks em ... my regards to the butler
It seems there is an element who cannot move away from the stereotype.
All the best.

[scotman]

The teaching of history is all very well as long as the textbook is accurate.

[IRN-BRU]

Hope no one mentions 1792

[karenmac60]

I agree wholeheartedly Rich. My knowledge of Scottish history is pretty dire - we spent our history lessons learning about how clinker boats were built for some strange reason. Apart from that it was World War 2 (every year we did a project on it) and English Kings and Queens. We should be taught about our own country, and it is such a rich and diverse history and culture - they certainly wouldn't run out of material. This shouldn't be about politics or about Scotland v England, it's about Scottish children knowing their heritage - something which seems to be acceptable in every other country but becomes a political hot potato as soon as Scotland is involved.

[rich47]

You are absolutely right karenmac 60, to be for Scotland does not mean you are anti-England, or any where else for that matter

[karenmac60]

Exactly. For some reason, many people take pride in Scotland to be anti English but being proud to be English is seen as perfectly natural and not anti anything (except maybe the French ;) ). I hate the way it always descends into a debate on here if Scotland is even mentioned.

[rich47]

Aye karenmac some of our friends South of the border seem to be a touch sensitive when Scotland is mentioned.
Good fun sometimes though eh?

[karenmac60]

Nah, I just get all riled up.

[Quizmonster]

Em Quote 1: "so you know this for a fact."
Despite the absence of a question mark, I took this to be a question, as you often omit punctuation. I answered it by pointing out that I DID know it for a fact.

Em Quote 2: “the usual i know best because i've been there brigade.”
If you ask someone for a factual answer based on personal experience, how can you then accuse him because he’s “been there”? How else could he provide such a response?

I have nothing whatsoever against the English…I have lived in England for as large a proportion of my life as I have in Scotland…my partner-lady is English…I could go on with reasons why I actually like the English, but won’t bother.
I have found that it is pretty much a waste of time trying to discuss anything sensibly with you, so I’ll make this my last effort. If you CAN provide an explanation of what you are on about in the quotes above, I'd be glad to read it, then leave it at that.

[rich47]

It is a pity Quizmonster that you should continue the Scotland versus England theme even though that was no part of the original posting.
The question is why should anyone object to Scottish children being taught the history and culture of their country.
This means all children in Scotland. There is no ethnic differentiation or connotation in this topic.

[Quizmonster]

For pity's sake, I'm NOT continuing the Scotland versus England theme! I originally presented a factual point in response to another poster (English?) who wrote something utterly nonsensical about Scots people's insularity. Then Em came in with her usual "So I suppose you know then, do you?" approach. The fact that I DID know seemed an irrelevance to her. But what the hey! Life's too short to bother with such insignificant intrusions.

I attended a Scottish primary school in the 1940s and a secondary one in the 1950s. As best I recall...and I recall very well...the Scottish element of history, literature etc was the very lifeblood of lessons then. This latest plan you refer to is, therefore, not some wonderful new approach to the education of Scottish children dreamt up by Alex Salmond; it's simply a revamp of the way things were before. I thoroughly commend it to you.
I imagine Labour's objection is a belief that people should be more outward-looking, given the multinational world we now inhabit, rather than sticking with the "Here's tae us. Wha's like us?" attitude.

[ludwig]

// I imagine Labour's objection is a belief that people should be more outward-looking, //

That's nice of them. Nothing to do Labour being worried about losing any more support to the SNP or anything then.

[Quizmonster]

Having nothing whatsoever to do with Labour myself, I've no idea WHAT they might be worried about, Ludwig. What I wrote was what I IMAGINED their case might be...namely, the possible advisability of taking an expansive rather than restrictive view of the teaching of history etc. Indeed, I actually used the word, 'imagine' in my response.

[ludwig]

I know QM, I was just disagreeing with what you imagined. I don't think they care very much about how outward looking or not the Scots are as long as they vote Labour.
As it says in the original question, they're worried about these lessons fomenting a more nationalistic outlook among young people which would serve to help the SNP. The SNP obviously believes the same thing as well, which is why they're proposing it.