IT’S high time the general ignorance of the population of Scotland about their own culture was addressed ("Young Scots learning about then nation's history 'through Netflix'", The Herald, May 14). When I was at school in the 1960s the Higher history course took you through the English monarchs from William the Conqueror on. Scotland (and the rest of the world) only got a mention if they affected England. Only decades later did I learn that the Scottish army fought on the side of Joan of Arc.
We got no Scottish Literature at all in the Higher English course (Sir Patrick Spens in primary school).
My son did Higher Modern Studies the year the Scottish Parliament was inaugurated and there was no mention in his course of devolution or any other aspect of distinctive Scottish politics. Nowadays as far as I can see most school history courses focus on 20th century history, specifically the World Wars.
A previous Secretary of State (once he was retired) said they avoided teaching Scottish history in case it turned them into nationalists. He said he thought they should teach it, and that the Unionist case could stand up to this scrutiny. But he didn’t say this – or do it – during his term in office.
Mary McCabe, Glasgow G31.
MARGARET Taylor (“Those who hold the power cannot be discriminated against”, The Herald, May 14) is right to be dismayed at some of the language concerning university admissions from independent schools. It is not an attitude or vocabulary she will find in the Scottish independent sector.
When applied properly, contextual admissions are a good thing but school type is not a proxy for background or wealth. Scotland is unique in having created a public benefit test for independent schools that has prompted a tripling of means-tested fee assistance to widen access – which is as it should be. The worry is that this work will be undermined by Government proposals to, uniquely, scrap the business rate level afforded to independent schools as a result.
This debate should not be seen as independent vs state. All schools – their hard-working pupils and teachers – deserve to be celebrated, regardless of sector.
John Edward,
Director, Scottish Council of Independent Schools, Edinburgh EH3.
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