One of Scotland’s most prominent and colourful educationalists will be remembered today (May 7) with the launch of a new book.
James Scotland died suddenly in 1983 only weeks after giving his last graduation address in his role as Principal of Aberdeen College of Education.
Scotland was a leading figure in Scottish education from 1961, but he also led a double-life as a prolific script and gag writer. Under the pen-name Ken Little, he wrote for the stage as well as for radio and TV stars such as Stanley Baxter, Andy Stewart and Una Mclean.
And alongside Alex Mitchell – famed for penning Stanley Baxter's 'Parliamo Glasgow' sketch – Scotland formed the writing team responsible for six of the famous Citizens' Christmas pantomimes in the 1950s. During the same period he was responsible for some 200 radio comedy shows, of which the long-running 17 Sauchie Street was the best known.
A keen actor, his education responsibilities gradually curtailed these activities but he continued to involve himself in the show business world until suffering a heart attack a mere six weeks after giving his final graduation address.
Now The School of Education at the University of Aberdeen has marked the 25th anniversary of his death by publishing his graduation speeches from 1961 to 1983 in a new book – A Most Honourable Profession: The Graduation Speeches of James Scotland.
"The speeches give an insight into the development of teacher education in these years of radical change, both in education and in society generally," said Dr David Northcroft, who worked under Scotland at Aberdeen College of Education, later becoming a Vice-Principal, and who edited the original scripts.
"Those who knew him will recognise in these speeches his immediately likeable style and manner. They reflect the experience of a varied and eventful life and capture an important era in Scottish education."
James Scotland CBE was born in 1917 in an upstairs tenement in the East End of Glasgow. Attending local schools, he went on to Glasgow University where he took three First Class Honours degrees. After war service in Italy, his highly successful career in Scottish education led to appointment as Principal of Aberdeen College of Education in 1961.
He played a full part in what proved to be an era of extensive reform and development. He chaired the General Teaching Council, and was a member of the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum, the Scottish Examination Board and the Council for National Academic Awards. He was a regular author and broadcaster, often appearing on Grampian TV's popular 'Reflections' slot, and in 1969 published a two-volume History of Scottish Education.
"However, relatively few people knew that he was also a prolific script writer," added Dr Northcroft. "It was said that seldom a week would pass without a James Scotland piece being produced somewhere, whether in a Caithness village hall or on the BBC. This new publication commemorates his significant contribution to Scottish education and Scottish life."
Professor John Nisbet, an Honorary Research Fellow at Aberdeen's School of Education, said: "The speeches give us an insight into James Scotland's educational values and his philosophy of life, and express the personality of a man who made a significant contribution to teacher education in his time.
"Moderation and balance were his ideals. He was well aware that, in an era of change and challenge to authority, his views might be seen as conservative, but held these views strongly and did not hesitate to express them firmly."
The book launch for A Most Honourable Profession will take place at 4.30pm on Wednesday, May 7 in The James Scotland Suite of the MacRobert Building at the University of Aberdeen's School of Education.