By Stuart Wilson

Copyright dailyrecord

East Ayrshire’s education boss has been forced to apologise after appearing to mock the point of music lessons. Linda McAulay-Griffiths made derogatory remarks about kids “knocking seven bells out of a glockenspiel” in a clip which has gone viral online. The schools’ chief, who is paid almost £112,000 per year, said she’d far rather pupils were put “right on to the tools.” More than 50,000 people have viewed Ms McAulay-Griffiths’ comments from a meeting which was aired online by the council. In the clip, she says: “I’m really thinking about getting the weans right on to the tools. “There’s a bit of me…and people have heard this from me before…I’m no (sic) really seeing the point of a wean knocking seven bells out of a glockenspiel – but I will see about them knocking seven bells out of tools. “It’s a weird adage but we need to make sure we’re maximising young people’s time in education around doing the right thing.” Ironically, East Ayrshire is revered for its musical roots, with the region playing host to the award-winning Cumnock Tryst, founded by top composer Sir James MacMillan. The Scottish Pipe Band Championships are also held in Kilmarnock, while Grammy-award winning violinist Nicola Benedetti hails from nearby West Kilbride. Ms McAulay-Griffiths’ remarks have sparked a huge backlash on social media, with the controversial clip being shared far and wide. Susan Given said: “This is really sad to hear music being demeaned so much. The music department was a big part of my school years, we went on weekends away, holidays abroad….life lessons as well as music. Supporting kids with Autism music therapy was such a great session for them. Not everyone wants to use tools.” Olivia Martin added: “And yet playing an instrument is allowing me to do a four-year uni course while making money playing gigs on the side, hopefully afterwards opening a venue and running a business.” Linda Barrie said: “I can’t believe that East Ayrshire Council’s Head of Education would say such an ignorant statement regarding music education!” And Siobhan Rodger said: “What a world, when someone like this is appointed to such a position.” Council chiefs claimed the clip shared on social media had been “taken out of context” and had come from a discussion around apprenticeships and tackling employability issues. Ms McAulay-Griffiths said: “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. “I do not support this statement under this interpretation, it was a throwaway comment, which on reflection, I can see that this may be interpreted, 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.”