Call to teach Scottish history in schools

Published on 24/09/2004 01:07

NATIONALISTS have called for Scottish history to be taught in all primary and secondary schools.

The SNP conference also declared that a full range of SQA qualifications in the subject should be made available in secondary schools.

The call went through despite misgivings from some activists - including a professional historian who warned against "ghettoising" the subject.

Critics also argued that the problem was one of teaching time and resources, rather than availability.

The call for the subject to be taught was led by Wendy Stuart, from Bridge of Don, near Aberdeen, who told the conference that in her own schooldays she had to learn Scottish history from her father - and she, in turn, had to teach it to her own three children.

"Even today, teaching of Scottish history is at the whim of a teacher," she told the conference delegates.

"If she wants to do it, she can. If she doesn’t, she doesn’t have to. This is wrong - very, very wrong."