Bill Wilson MSP

Dr Bill Wilson, SNP MSP for the West of Scotland, has written to the education directors of all of Scotland’s local education authorities to raise the topic of the Scots Language.  Bill’s letter seeks to ascertain if the subject of discrimination against Scots speakers, and/or the benefits of including the Scots language within the curriculum, is incorporated within teaching in-service days.

The letter follows up a research project entitled ‘Cuddy Brae: Language at Letham’ which examined the use of Scots within a primary school.  This study demonstrated the benefits of including Scots within the curriculum.  However, the project also revealed an element of un-conscious discrimination by teachers against the Scots language.  (It is important to note that when teachers at the school were made aware of this unconscious discrimination they took prompt action to remedy the situation.)

Bill commented:

 “The use of Scots in the classroom can have many positive and worthwhile effects, including enhanced literacy skills and improved self-esteem.  Furthermore, studies in Catalonia  have demonstrated that educating pupils in both Castilian and Catalan improves their ability to learn a third language. 

“The pupils at Letham school were certainly enthused by the project.  As one young pupil put it, ‘I dinnae like daen that much writing, but in Scots I like doing words and all that.’”

Bill concluded:

 “One of our national celebrations is Burn’s nicht, when we celebrate the life of an internationally renowned Scots language poet.  I find it a little ironic that it is fitting to have a national, in fact worldwide, celebration of a Scots language poet, yet some in Scotland still deem the Scots language unfit for general use. 

“I will continue to pursue the use of Scots language in primary schools, not only as a principle of basic justice, but also to ensure that our rich and lively linguistic heritage continues as a living language, as capable of inspiring future generations as it does this and past generations.”

Notes for editors

For more information on the Language at Letham report you can visit:

http://www.scottishbooktrust.com/node/15937

A copy of Dr Wilson’s letter follows:

Dear Sir

In-service days and the Scots language.

Scots has all too often been denigrated and downgraded, and those who speak it made to feel inferior.  You may be aware of the “Cuddy Brae:  Language at Letham” project which revealed the benefits of introducing Scots into the primary school curriculum.  It found that teachers had unconsciously held negative attitudes towards the language.  The teachers took immediate steps to change things and the project received a universally positive response from teachers, parents and pupils alike, and brought improvements in self-esteem and literacy skills.  One of the children said, ‘I dinnae like daeing that much writing, but in Scots I like doing words and all that.’  (If you are not convinced by the “Language at Letham” project, the benefits of multilingualism have been demonstrated elsewhere, for example with respect to Catalan and Castilian in Catalonia.)
With the above in mind, I would like to know whether the subject of discrimination against Scots speakers and/or the benefits of introducing a Scots language element into the classroom are ever broached during your teachers’ in-service days?  If not, would you consider it?

Should you require further information on Scots feel free to visit my website and search “Scots language” using the “exact phrase” option.  If you would like to talk to me about this feel free to give me a call.  In the meantime, I look forward to receiving your response to this letter.

Aefauldlie

Dr Bill Wilson MSP