What the guidelines say
The 5-14 national guidelines give plenty of scope to add a Scottish and Scots dimension to the curriculum. Here are just a few quotes from English Language 5-14 National Guidelines that justify the presence of Scots within the curriculum:
Scotland, like most countries, contains many languages and dialects, reflecting a variety of beliefs, value systems and perceptions. It is the school's duty to develop an awareness of this diversity of culture and language, helping pupils, through language, to value themselves and their own beliefs, while respecting and valuing the beliefs and perceptions of others.
To foster a sense of personal or national identity, pupils should encounter languages and texts of a specifically Scottish and regional character. Giving attention to Scottish culture will permit the exploration of issues appropriate to the needs of children growing up in communities with their own histories and concerns. The classroom use of dialects and languages other than standard English can also reveal much about the nature of language generally, and set English in perspective as a world language operating across cultural, geographic and ethnic boundaries.
The idea of diversity is crucial to understanding language. There is no standard form of Scots; there are many forms, varying one from another, although sometimes sharing common features. To help pupils, terms such as dialect and accent should be explained and used, with examples, to encourage discussion and develop perceptions of Scottish languages, and how they relate to the lives and experiences of Scottish people.