By Brian Beacom

HOW far should school teachers go in presenting children with their model of the future? Should teachers ever take a political stance?

And what about during wartime? Can it ever be acceptable for educators to encourage those in their charge to go off and fight - with the chances of being killed massive?

That's the heavy hitting issues the audience of 'acclaimed' World War One theatre production - set to tour across Scotland for the first time next month - will be blitzed with.

Sequamur (Latin for 'let us follow'), portrays the grief and guilt of a Highland headmaster who encouraged pupils to fight in the conflict.

Created by Isle of Lewis writer Donald S. Murray, the play tells the poignant story of William J. Gibson, the headmaster of the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway between 1894 and 1925.

Described as 'an enlightened and charismatic teacher', Gibson believed in the power of progress through education. And it's claimed he genuinely believed that service in WWI would bring a new enlightened age to Britain.

But he was to endure personal turmoil following the death of 148 of his own pupils.

The producer of Sequamur, Muriel Ann Macleod, said she expected a powerful audience reaction to the play when it tours.

"There is great anticipation ahead of the Sequamur tour following the wonderful reception the play received when it was performed at An Lanntair in Lewis last year.

"The writer, Donald S. Murray, has created an exceptional script that explores not just the events involving William Gibson, his pupils and World War I, but themes surrounding charismatic leaders who lead young people to war both then and in the present day."

The play will also resonate with fans of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Muriel Spark's novel which featured a young Scottish teacher extolling the virtues of fighting for Fascism.

It highlighted the power educators can have over those in their charge. It reveals how they have the power to enlighten, but also to end young, innocent lives. In Stornoway at that time, Gibson certainly had the power to play God.

Writer Donald S. Murray highlighted how the teacher who sent his kids to their death believed he was well-intentioned.

"William Gibson genuinely believed that war service would be a positive for both the individual," he said. "And this would aid advancements in society more generally.

"But we witness how unprepared the novice British army recruits were for the horrors of industrialised warfare.

"Gibson's pupils wrote back to tell him about the reality of what they were experiencing so that he would understand, and we see the devastating effect it had on Gibson himself as he was consumed with guilt."

The writer describes the teacher as a "truly remarkable man". The play begins with Mr Gibson encouraging his pupils, many of them teenagers, to join the war effort because he believed they would have the chance to change class conflict, as well as the European conflict.

"He doesn't belong to the stereotype of believing in the war for patriotic reasons," said Donald Murray. "He wasn't for glorifying war, but believed it could change the world for the better."

In 1932 , a plaque was unveiled outside the school in Stornoway commemorating the 148 pupils who had died in the First World War.

As he unveiled the plaque, Mr Gibson delivered a speech full of regret. He said the world he saw before him was not the one he wanted his pupils to fight for; Europe was still divided, class distinctions remained, another war loomed.

"He must have been consumed by guilt," said the writer. "He wrote to all the ex-pupils and these young men wrote back. I don't agree with what he did but any man who took the time to write hundreds of letters to all these boys seems remarkable."

Sequamur is a sixty minute play. It is performed in Gaelic but is designed to be fully assessable to all, with live simultaneous translation via headphones for people who do not speak Gaelic.

Afternoon workshops and performances suitable for schools in each region will also be provided.

Donald Murray added; "The performances utilise many historical artefacts from the time, including the letters sent to William Gibson, and there are also multimedia aspects including relevant clips and video from World War I."

Muriel Ann Macleod argues this is a powerful theatrical device.

"The use of real World War I footage and photography, text from the young soldiers' actual letters to Gibson, the recollections of how Gibson was and his ability to inspire and lead others, enables a performance that is thought provoking, dramatic and powerfully emotive."

Erica Morrison, Chief Executive of Pròiseact nan Ealan, the Gaelic Arts Agency, said: "This unique story has a universal resonance in other parts of Britain where young men went to war.

"It was important for us that the production directly related to each of the six communities it will visit by linking in advance of the performance with World War I historians in each region.

"The historians are being asked to research records of the school leavers who died in WWI in that area. A localised commemorative roll of honour drawing on this factual material will be featured in the multimedia commission and will be unique to each place the play is presented."

Ms Morrison added; "Other community engagement activities will include workshops in Gaelic or English focusing on new writing and performance for communities and senior secondary schools."

*Sequamur, Cottiers Theatre Glasgow, March 5 and 6.