Petition calls for culture change

The petition calls for history and language to be promoted

A petition urging a review of how Scottish literature and history is taught has gone before Holyrood's petitions committee.

Launched by the Literature Forum for Scotland on St Andrew's Day last year, it has been signed by more than 1,500 writers and teachers.

It urged greater emphasis on Scottish culture in the education curriculum.

However, committee convener Michael McMahon said teachers should not be prevented from choosing what to study.

The forum's campaign has received backing from novelists, poets, musicians and historians.

It said people without a knowledge of history and the arts could lack the confidence to relate to their own and to other cultures in a balanced way.

We want everybody in Scotland, not just in our schools, to be able to know something about its history, literature and languages Dr Donald Smith Literature Forum for Scotland

For some time Scotland's literary establishment is said to have felt that a greater emphasis is needed on the teaching of Scots literature and history at every level of education.

Principal petitioner Dr Donald Smith, convener of the Literature Forum for Scotland, said every citizen of Scotland is entitled to the opportunity to learn about Scotland's literature and history.

He said: "We want everybody in Scotland, not just in our schools, to be able to know something about its history, literature and languages.

"We don't believe at the moment that there's an overall plan or strategy in place to allow that to happen."

Teaching constraints

The formal petition reads: "Recognising that critical self-awareness of Scottish history, literature and languages is vital to a confident, successful and outward-looking Scotland, we submit that the present arrangements for the study of these disciplines at primary, secondary and tertiary levels are inadequate.

"We request that they be reviewed and effective frameworks established to ensure that all citizens of Scotland have the opportunity to understand these key aspects of their own society and culture."

The petition said Scotland's history should not be lost

However, Mr McMahon, petition committee convener, questioned whether it was wiser to allow teachers to decide what pupils should study.

"If we become too prescriptive then we take away the ability of teachers to bring forward their own selves and their own art in teaching," he added.

The committee agreed to write to Education Minister Peter Peacock and Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson about the issue.

Members will also contact various education bodies, including the Scottish Higher Education Council, the Educational Institute of Scotland, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education and universities.