Do teachers avoid Scottish history because they don't know enough about the subject? (Scottish history is avoided – academic, 6 December 2008)
In a current Radio Scotland series, Richard Dargie, the Edinburgh academic quoted above, has a good deal more to say on the subject and so do teachers and pupils. And it might benefit everyone to have a good listen before Burns’ classic poem of betrayal, Parcel of Rogues is quoted, battle flags are unfurled, and authorities are accused of acting like Uncle Toms.
Of course teachers are wary of teaching what they weren’t taught themselves. Of course the British authorities were once wary about teaching Scottish history in case it turned us all into little nationalists. Of course, as a result, my generation has been largely self taught - Prebble and Tranter probably opened more minds than a generation of history teachers.
But that includes the current generation of history teachers -- some almost evangelical in their determination to make sure the airbrushing of Scotland from the syllabus doesn’t happen again on their watch.
Most teachers under the age of 30 have been taught some Scottish history. The subject is part of academic degrees in history where previously it was not. Pupils, post Braveheart, have at least entered school with the vague notion that something significant happened here once. And history teachers have been able to use the myths embedded in Mel Gibson’s fictional account to promote an attitude of sceptical enquiry amongst youngsters. So if they leave with their battles in the wrong chronological order at least they know how to question what’s “given” and look for sources to corroborate claims. In the past there were no resources for teachers trying to branch out from Napoleon or Perkin Warbeck. Now there are online resources – as long as schools have the equipment to access them.
Things are not as they were thirty years ago. In fact, some youngsters are turning their backs on Scottish history because they’ve had too much of it. At Alva Academy, in a classroom almost overlooking the Wallace Monument, I spoke to a group of bright, animated history-loving 15 year olds none of whom plans to answer the Scottish option question in Higher History. Why not?
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