Link to The Press and Journal's Website Article.

Suggesting a blanket ban on closing any more schools in rural Scotland may be construed as nothing more than another political soundbite, designed to win the votes of the country dwellers.

But SNP leader John Swinney appears to have hit the nail on the head when he suggests that the small village primary has a crucial role to play in the future of a whole way of life.

We know how important these schools are to the communities they serve. Every time a local authority deems one to be surplus to requirements, there is a huge public outcry and, more often than not, a successful campaign against closure.

Education is their primary function, but these buildings are often a focal point for the entire community, hosting everything from the local Scout group to the annual village fete. Take the school away, and the heart can be ripped from an entire area. It would be difficult to attract new residents, and without people there would be a bleak future for other local concerns such as the village shop or pub.

On the flip side of the coin, we hear every day of rising property prices, with a shortage of land in towns and cities to meet the demand from developers and house-hunters alike. We also know there is a real growth in the number of people who can work from home as technology advances at breakneck speed.

Both of those point to a real opportunity for rural communities to grow and thrive in the 21st century. Which brings us neatly back to Mr Swinney and his demand for a moratorium.

Without a local school, young families will not be prepared to up sticks to the country. Without new blood, entire communities will die.