Head of education apologises for 'insulting' music education remarks

A local authority’s head of education has apologised for appearing to “insult” music education in schools with “out-of-context” remarks.

Linda McAulay-Griffiths told East Ayrshire councillors at a public meeting in September that she was “not really seeing the point of a wean knocking seven bells out of a glockenspiel”.

She added that she did see the value of “wains knocking seven bells out of tools and being able to do that”.

The discussions at the meeting centred on the development of a new vocational centre being built in one of the most deprived areas of East Ayrshire.

Ms McAulay-Griffiths was discussing employability issues, particularly the availability of apprenticeships.

The video has been circulating on social media, with people online calling the comments “ignorant” and “disrespectful”.

Calum Huggan, a percussion and workshop leader with the Benedetti Foundation charity, said on Facebook that the comments were “incredibly short-sighted”.

“These words dismiss the dedication, skill and potential of young musicians,” he wrote.

“To belittle the creative arts in this way is not just disrespectful, it’s dangerous.”

“Creative education isn’t a luxury; it’s a pathway to careers, personal growth, and lifelong skills. Apprenticeships and vocational training are important, but to suggest that they are somehow ‘more real’ than the arts is profoundly misguided.”

Ms McAulay-Griffiths has since apologised, and East Ayrshire Council has insisted that the short clip “has been taken out of context”.

“The wording of my statement within the meeting was in no way intended to devalue the currency of music education and activity, but I am able to see how such a short clip may be taken as having a negative take on both the curricular positioning of music and its benefits for young people, and I apologise for this,” she said.

“I do not support this statement under this interpretation, it was a throwaway comment, which on reflection, I can see may be misinterpreted, particularly when taken out of context.

“Throughout my career, I have been very supportive of music education and fully recognise the benefit to children and young people as evidenced through academic research.”

The council said that it has a “strong tradition” of promoting music education working in partnership with musicians and composers in particular Sir James MacMillan, through the Cumnock Tryst and Nicola Benedetti.

The local authority added that East Ayrshire also hosts the annual Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships at the William McIlvanney Campus in Kilmarnock.