Rooshie-Doo - Scots' stories to stimulate debate
Gallus Publications has brought out five fictionalised accounts of historical Scots characters to stimulate debate in the primary classroom (P4-P7).
Prejudice, medical ethics and children's rights are some of the themes explored in these tales on the likes of Burke and Hare, the Edinburgh body snatchers, and Beatrix Laing of Pittenweem, accused of witchcraft in the eighteenth century.
Scots stories through the eyes of a child
The stories are based on real Scottish historical events but are seen through the eyes of a fictional child.
In 'Accused! A Story of Beatrix Laing', the author has created a fictional niece, Isobel, for the real-life character Beatrix, who was accused of witchcraft in 1703-04. Through Isobel's eyes the reader is exposed to suspicion, mob mentality and intolerance of differing lifestyles. It is a harrowing tale, but Isobel does escape to a more enlightened household and expresses her hopes and ideas for a better future. The story could be related to current traveller and asylum seeker issues.
Similarly, although 'Murderers! A story of Burke and Hare' is set within a historical context, the issues of homelessness, medical ethics and the voice of the child in society relate to some aspects of young people's lives today.
In 'Cannibals! A Story of Sawney Bean' pupils encounter a number of issues when the main character comes to live in a children's home. He faces bullying, prejudice, isolation and loneliness. Sawney works in partnership with another boy to overcome the stigma of his name and dispel the myth in the process.
Using the books in the classroom
First and foremost the books were written to be a good read, but they also invite opportunities for reflection and discussion.
All five books in this series present a number of learning opportunities for children to develop their logical, critical and problem-solving skills, and analytical questioning. The books were written with philosophical enquiry in mind and would provide a good stimulus within a community of enquiry framework.
They will also provoke factual questions, and teachers may find they stimulate interest in some lesser-known and troubling aspects of Scottish history. Teacher preparation is definitely recommended; some appropriate supportive material, especially for enquiry work, will be helpful.
The stories may open up potentially controversial issues. Therefore some knowledge and preferably experience of strategies to deal with difficult questions that may arise is also recommended.
A uniquely Scottish flavour
There is some Scots dialogue in all the books, as reflected in the title of the series, 'Rooshie-Doo' meaning a noisy commotion, a bit of fuss. The books are written in an engaging style and portray these dark Scottish tales in a new and interesting light.
School pupil reading from 'Cannibals! A Story of Sawney Bean'
Values and citizenship
The books provide opportunities to foster and develop values and citizenship. Children are encouraged to use higher order thinking skills to develop their own values and dispositions toward the issues raised in the stories.
With support from teachers the books will help children understand the values of the Scottish Mace and the Curriculum Review, wisdom, justice, compassion and integrity, and help them to question the way in which those values were threatened in the past and perhaps continue to be threatened by some aspects of life in contemporary Scotland.
The Rooshie-Doo series
The Rooshie-Doo books provide opportunities for further development in the classroom and Gallus Publications has also produced a website which includes free resources based on the books.
Titles in the first series, launched on 6 September 2004:
- Accused! A story of Beatrix Laing by Susan Greig
- Murderers! A story of Burke and Hare by Karen Doherty
- Threat! A story of Mary Slessor by Karen Doherty
- Cannibals! A story of Sawney Bean by Helen Welsh
- Reformed! A story of Jenny Geddes by Helen Welsh
Four more books have been commissioned for this series, due February 2005, on these topics:
- A pageboy in the court of Queen Margaret
- Scotland's role in the slave trade
- The building of Maes Howe
- The Highland Clearances
All titles cost £5.95 each or £26.95 for the set of five. Please contact Gallus Publications for further information.
Contact details
Karen Doherty, Gallus Publications
karendoherty80@hotmail.com