Does being Scottish lend itself to being negative?
Big question – prompted by a seemingly minor incident today.
On the staffroom noticeboard there are awards for acts of kindness…and underneath there is a comment on the lines of “or for the best sook”. The Online Scottish Dictionary gives the following definition ( and spelling)
Souk [suk] – suck, teachers pet
Now I want to be absolutely clear here – this comment on the board was totally tongue in cheek. The spirit of kindness is alive and well in the school and it is recognised regularly. It was just as I as chatting about it with colleagues that it made me think.
There is a school of thought that Scots are inherently gloomy and pessimistic. I don’t hold with that sweeping generalisation but I have met my fair share of people who do start with their glass half empty.
However, I do think that we do have an enormous range of words which can be used as a “put down” – like sook. We also have a real sense of humour and these words often crop up in the jokes about ourselves. Maybe the two things go hand in hand.
I think I might come back to this one!
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Nov 06, 2007
I agree, Jackie, that Scots are – usually (and another generalisation, I know) – able to take a joke and do not take themselves too seriously. I think that’s why we tend to panic on the odd occasions when we find ourselves actually doing well at something (such as the general disbelief amongst football supporters that the national team’s current great form will last).
I also think that the underlying characteristic of egalitarianism – more honoured in the breach than in the observance, admittedly – plays a part here. Some countries take the whole idea of awards and honours very seriously – Australia comes to mind, for instance – and good luck to them. But I wonder if the problem for Scots is that such awards tend to be handed down from ‘on high’ rather than as genuine honours determined by one’s peers. I can understand and empathise with those who treat such baubles with a modicum of suspicion.
On the other hand – and much more negatively – during my years in Scottish education I was often made aware of an occasional streak of anti-intellectualism amongst some teachers. These were people, usually, who saw teaching as primarily a craft, and who took a jaundiced view – wrongly – of those who had philosophical or intellectual pretensions.
It all makes the world go round, I guess.
Nov 07, 2007
I have written this at a time when we Scots think we can beat all comers on the football park…! It’s good while it lasts. Now there is me sounding negative – or just being realistic – discuss!
I think you are spot on with the suspicion of awards. Recognition comes in many ways. I expect there are few people who would not value recognition from their peers above a trophy or medal.
Good to hear from you, John. A lot of what I have read on “education” blogs is making much more sense now.