will my kids be bullied for english accents..

[jaeno76]

I grew up in Edinburgh in the 80s but with English parents and had an English accent - it was hard going and I remember a lot of prejudice and segregation.
thinking of relocating to Scotland, but kids are just coming up to school age and I worry about putting them through this.
Hopefully Edinburgh is more diverse now than then and attitudes have changed - but does anyone have any experience of whether this has been issue for them?
thanks all xx

This is depressing reading

looks like Edinburgh or nothing for us then

I work in a school in Edinburgh where the local Edinburgh accent isn’t often heard bar staff. We have a number of different languages spoken. But a lot of English accents are often heard. It’s quite cute when you hear an Edinburgh word being said in an English accent. But I’ve never heard of anyone being bullied for their accent. Our head would be right on it if they heard anyone being spoken to in a horrible way for their accent.

@GettinPiggyWithIt while I don't have personal experience of other parts of the country, I'm confident that there are (a) other parts of Scotland that are either sufficiently diverse, or have a significant enough population of English incomers that a child with an English accent wouldn't stand out and (b) plenty of schools that do not tolerate bullying and manage it effectively if it arises.

Inverness springs to mind as having plenty of English incomers (although, like I say, I don't really have personal experience).

I'd also add that parts of Scotland suffer from de-population and second home buying, and any family who settle with the intention of integrating into the local community would be made welcome.

Also, say what you like about Nicola Sturgeon, but she is well aware that Scotland needs incoming population, whether it comes from England or anywhere else.

Those of you that are crowbarring in references to the SNP, get a grip, that’s absolutely pathetic. And I’m no fan of the party.

What a depressing thread. That bullying of children with an English accent is so widespread that no one on here seems to be shocked or astonished by it.

Children only become bigots if that is what they are taught by their parents. Aren't Scots people really, really embarrassed that racism and bigotry against the English (or indeed anybody) is so normalised?

If my parents had brought me up to look down on a particular race/creed/class I'd consider that they'd failed as parents. It's honestly shocking.

Central Edinburgh? There is a total mix of accents. They did not comment on my DS’s accent at all!

I was disappointed when I moved up here and heard nothing but English accents where I lived 😅. I was expecting the full Scottish experience!

Yes, you really need to move out to Fife for Scottish accents.

Living in Edinburgh I think I meet more people with English accents than Scottish! Certainly in the bruntsfield / morningside area

I was badly bullied when I moved from Yorkshire to Sussex in the 80s.

This was led by the staff - “incomers” had to sit on a desk by ourselves so “native Sussex children” didn’t “catch” our accents, and we were not allowed to speak in class for the same reason. We had to pass the teacher a note. Obviously the other kids followed the teacher’s lead - thankfully another girl started in my class the term after me, and we hung out together until my parents pulled me out of school.

I was sent to the speech therapist three times over my first school year “to teach her to speak properly, because I won’t have that accent in MY class”.

So this really isn’t something the English can feel smug about, I’m afraid.

I am a teacher and that just broke my heart.

I completely agree with your comments.
I think this is an issue that goes under the radar and it shouldn't. It should be a major priority and everyone working in Scottish schools should be on the lookout for it and have methods for dealing with it just as they would for any other kind of discriminatory behaviour.
It's appalling that in 2022 people would be too nervous to send their kids to school in certain areas of Scotland, because of this issue.
If Nicola S is aware of the need for in-migration to Scotland, she needs to be more vocal about this specific issue and set an example of how we treat EVERYONE from other nations, not just those outside the rest of the UK.

i wonder how things have changed since I was at school though. I think at my kids primary if they were old enough to know better (P5+) said racist things about black or Asian kids more than once they would probably be suspended for a few days. It is taken THAT seriously. But bullying due to an English accent? I’m not sure.

It's not normalised.

The vast majority of the posts on this thread concur with my personal experience that I mentioned up thread.

I've dealt with many, many bullying cases. None related to an accent.

Of course, that doesn't mean it hasn't or doesn't occur but it is most certainly not normal in Scotland ( and I've lived all over).

My nephew is currently being bullied at school in Edinburgh for his English accent. So sorry yes, it does happen.

@Teach12 the other girl was just from a few miles away, and she got similar treatment - this was about a small village getting a new development of houses and the existing residents not liking it. I had a supportive mum who was down in the school office complaining every week, and they pulled me out at the end of the school year and sent me to school in the next town over.

But yes, Mrs Lyons was an evil cow.

My DD gets quite a few negative comments about her English accent, in Edinburgh. But she’s 13 so people will find something to be foul about.

Younger two still have their English accents but haven’t had any comments.

That sounds encouraging Groovee
Is it a state or private school...does that maje a difference to huw such behaviour might be managed?

Would you mind saying which school it is? Completely understand if not!

So sorry to hear this garlictwist. Are the school dealing with it effectively? I hope hes ok

My kids are born (& made) in Scotland.
1 had an English accent, 1 less so. The one that did had a very bad time in the Borders during IndyRef1. I hope it doesn't happen again. Adults can 'take it', but its tough for kids right enough.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX you do see how you’re contradicting yourself in this? And also, being so forceful and blind to ‘your’ side (obviously you’re pro Indy- your prerogative) and their claims on what all unionists are, you are exemplifying the division and generalisations that take place. You’re making it very difficult for other to disagree with you, and if they do, then they’re unionists..🫤

anyway, I’m a teacher just outside of Glasgow and I haven’t ever witnessed bullying about accents. Some banter about lots of things- so possibly accents- but really most people don’t care. I’d also argue a referendum becomes more about party allegiance than nationality .

She doesn't stir up anything. It's individuals that are the problem.

There are a mixture of accents in my kids Glasgow schools. I asked my kids And they said no one gets bullied for their accent. It’s considered quite cool having a not Scottish accent they said.

I was severely bullied moving down south for having a Scottish accent as a young child and even although I faked a good English accent and still can, I was bullied for being Scottish.

When I moved back to Scotland I had an English accent and wasn’t bullied once for it but they did bully me for any number of other things, spots, greasy hair, Being ugly, wearing glasses, wearing the wrong shoes… much like down south too.

Football (fittba) is very divisive. I'd take a holiday during the world cup, the better England do, the worse it is and England are looking fairly good this year.

it was my Ds' who had the 'english' accent.
aged 10, & struggling, the 'support for learning' teacher said: 'there is nothing wrong with that boy except he's got a right english accent, like his parents'.
The Head sniggered.
I took it up with the LEA who agreed that 'accent can affect learning'.
We moved areas. He was referred for a Dyslexia assessment in term 1.
Turns out he is Dyslexic, Dyspraxic, Dyscalculic & Dysgraphic. And has an auditory processing disorder. Oh, and he's Autistic too (we were ref to SS for getting a private assessment done for that). We spent 5 years in the north of england (30m away, just over the border). We came back (hes entitled to support with his further education as a born & bred (in Dundee IVF clinic) Young Scot.
The attitudes are still there sadly. I think it is better in the cities & the central belt but can be bad in rural areas. It is a great shame as Scotland is far less racist than England. Unless you are English. And Not all Scottish people are like that of course, but like racism in England, it's the few that tar the majority of decent folk.

I moved from Hertfordshire to the Scottish Highlands, with a cockney accent, when I was 14 (1978). I didn’t have any problems.