New website to teach pupils 'forgotten' Scots history

Published on Tuesday 27 October 2009 21:30

A NEW website has been created to help fill the gaps in the teaching of Scottish history to schoolchildren.

Scotland's History Online will enable children to learn about previously neglected topics such as the Scottish Enlightenment, the history of Gaeldom and Scots in Australia.

Structured by time periods, the site offers video clips, photos, illustrations, maps, interactive games, downloads and archive materials for teachers.

Launching the site, education secretary Fiona Hyslop said she hoped it would be used by people from all walks of life, not just teachers.

She said: "Scotland has a fantastic story to tell from the early people, wars of independence, Renaissance, Reformation and Enlightenment, through to the modern day.

"From innovations in the fields of medicine, science and industry through to Scotland's place in an evolving European Union, it's essential that our young people develop a strong understanding of Scottish history.

"For too long, Scottish history has been neglected in our schools."

During the parliamentary election campaign in 2007, the SNP vowed to improve the teaching of Scottish history in schools.

The party's manifesto said: "Scottish history, culture and heritage will be embedded in school life to provide a Scottish world view."

Critics accused the SNP government of using Scottish history as a way to further their independence agenda. However, historians backed the resource.

Leading Scottish historian Tom Devine described it as potentially taking Scotland from the end of the queue in terms of teaching national history to the top.

He said: "I think this will be a powerful tool. It's one of the best things that has happened as we struggle towards getting the education of our kids right in relation to our nation's history, without in any sense losing the broader perspective."

However, he said more time needed to be dedicated to teaching Scottish history in schools.

Tom Monaghan, president of the Scottish Association of History Teachers (Sath), said: "We hope that these resources will encourage colleagues to start local but think global when teaching young Scots about their past, present and future."

A key issue surrounding teaching Scottish history was a lack of knowledge from non-history specialists who themselves had not been taught the topic sufficiently.

Earlier this year, the Scottish Qualifications Authority revealed the new Higher history would include a compulsory Scottish element.

The website is at: www.ltscotland.org.uk/scotlandshistory