THE acclaimed Scottish writers Ian Rankin and Louise Welsh have called on a headteacher to reverse her decision to ban pupils from studying the play Black Watch because of its adult themes and offensive language.

 

Rankin and Welsh were one of a number of influential writers to sign an open letter calling on Jane Esson, head teacher at Webster's High in Kirriemuir, Angus, to change her mind. Rankin found fame with his internationally best-selling series of Inspector Rebus books, and Welsh is renowned for her novels The Cutting Room, Tamburlaine Must Die, The Bullet Trick, Naming The Bones, The Girl on The Stairs, and A Lovely Way to Burn.

The Sunday Herald revealed last week that Esson forbade higher drama pupils from studying the SQA-approved text about the Iraqi war because of bad language and sexual context.

Parents and the 16 and 17-year-old fifth year students were outraged at the censorship and called on her to think again however she is sticking to her decision even though more parents have since complained.

The letter, co-signed by screenwriter Mike Cullen and Fiona Morrison-Graham, Vice President of the writers' association Scottish PEN, speaks of dismay over Esson's decisions, and says: "The nature of Black Watch's language allows us to hear soldiers speak in their own voice about their lives and the effects of momentous political decisions. When we ignore those voices, we step away from an important dialogue about our society, and our understanding is worse for it.

"In the spirit of such constructive dialogue, we would support the pupils and parents of Angus High School. We respectfully ask the head teacher to reconsider her decision and allow her students to continue their study of this essential piece of Scottish culture."

The letter, published today in the Sunday Herald, is also endorsed by the Executive Committee at Scottish PEN.

Parents and the 16 and 17-year-old fifth year students were outraged at the censorship and called on her to think again but Esson is sticking to her decision even though more shocked parents have since complained.

Parents believe her evangelical beliefs are behind the move but she refused to explain her motives, and also refused to answer a series of questions relating to her decision put to her by the Sunday Herald on behalf of the parents and pupils.

Esson,who has been head teacher at the school since last August, caused upset when she refused to turn up to a parent council meeting to discuss the issue last month and went to a local drama group's showing of the Wizard of Oz instead.

Despite being invited to the next meeting scheduled for March 17, she refuses to confirm her attendance and will not answer any questions as to why this particular text was banned when pupils continue to read other material containing sex or swear words.

One parent, who didn't want to be named for fear of repercussions for their daughter, said: "This is ridiculous and childish.

"She is a head teacher and she needs to explain why this brilliant Scottish play has been banned yet the kids can still read Shakespeare or Chaucer which are littered with sex and cursing.

"It doesn't make any sense to us and we just want her to give us a proper explanation. In our view it is censorship in the extreme and the more she stays quiet about it the worse it's going to get.

"No other head teacher in the country has banned this from their school so why is she doing it? It's is bizarre and we think she is letting her personal beliefs cloud her judgement.

"If she doesn't turn up the parent council meeting this time there will be outrage.

"Some more parents who weren't aware of it have come forward to express their shock and complain to the school and the parent council since the article appeared in the Sunday Herald last week but she is refusing to budge."

Angus Council education chiefs said Esson had nothing more to say on the matter.

In a statement, a council spokeswoman said: "We have considered all of your questions and we have nothing further to add to our statement from last Friday."

Their earlier statement claimed the pupils had chosen a different text to study but both the parents and pupils strongly refute that and insist they were forced to pick another play.

Last week's statement read: "While the play has not been banned, it is not being used as a core text this year. The play is not on the SQA's prescribed reading list, and this year the class has chosen another text to study.

"The head teacher was unfortunately unable to meet as the time given for the meeting clashed with another school meeting. The head teacher has requested another date for the meeting."

Parents also claimed Esson had not taken the time to read or watch the play before making her judgement but she also refused to answer that question put to her.