MSP calling for probe into schools Scots language bias

Published on Tuesday 25 March 2008 09:13

FOR years, children speaking their Scots dialect have been told off by teachers for not using proper English. In the past, pupils were belted for saying words which they used regularly at home.

Now MSPs are considering research into whether pupils still face discrimination in school for speaking Scots.

SNP backbencher Bill Wilson hopes to persuade the Scottish Parliament's equal opportunities committee to commission a study amid fears of a "negative attitude" to their native tongue can harm youngster's education.

The SNP election manifesto promised to promote awareness and use of Scots and the Scottish Government plans an audit of existing provision for Scots.

But Mr Wilson believes there is enough evidence of possible discrimination to justify research on the issue. He said Scotland had three native languages – English, Scots and Gaelic – and speakers of all three should have equal rights.

Mr Wilson, a list MSP for the West of Scotland, said he had been belted at school for saying "Aye".

He fears pupils who speak Scots could still suffer from a "generally negative attitude" and teachers "correcting" Scots without recognising it as a separate language.

He said there were benefits to children from learning Scots as well as English: "Research has shown it is much easier for children to learn a third language if they start off with two."

But he said a study at Letham Primary School, Livingston found teachers unconsciously took a negative attitude towards Scots. He said: "They took immediate steps to change things."

Recent figures from the Scottish Government showed 88 languages are spoken by children in Edinburgh schools with Polish the most common after English. But in Midlothian, Scots was listed as the most common after English.

Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell, convener of the equal opportunities committee, said looking at discrimination against Scots-speaking pupils would be considered with other proposals.

She said: "It will be up to the committee to prioritise and see what they want to do."

SOME USEFUL SCOTS SCHOOL PHRASES

Scots - English

Can a gang til the cludgie? – May I go to the toilet?

Bide fir iz – Wait for me

He's taen ma baa – He's taken my ball

A hae ae skelf i ma haun – I've a splinter in my hand

A cannae dae ma sums – I can't do my sums

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