asked the Minister for education whether his attention has been directed to a resolution recently passed at a meeting of representatives of national teachers expressing dissatisfaction with the existing methods of teaching school subjects through the medium of Irish and whether he will now set up a commission to inquire into the whole question of how best to promote the Irish language revival through the schools.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching Through Irish.
My attention has been drawn to the terms of a resolution stated to have been passed at a private meeting of the Dublin City Branch of the I.N.T.O. The resolution in question does not suggest to me that there is any necessity to set up a commission to inquire into the problem of how best to promote the revival of Irish through the schools.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, is he aware that practically everybody interested in the revival of Irish is of opinion now that the teaching of other subjects through the medium of Irish to children who do not themselves understand the Irish language reacts most unfavourably on general education, and is calculated to arouse an unjustifiable prejudice against the Irish language in the minds of parents throughout the country? If he is not aware of that would he not consider setting up some kind of committee before which interested persons might put their views in that regard?
I am not aware of this feeling about which the Deputy speaks. I might call the Deputy's attention to the fact that the programme which is at present being taught in the national schools was presented by a conference which sat in 1926, and which reported very fully on this question. The signatures of four representatives of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation are appended to this report. The report stresses the fact that under present circumstances clearly we have to have regard to the fact that we are passing through a transitional stage, and obviously during a transitional stage there may be differences of opinion as to whether we are moving too slowly or too fast. The matter of teaching through Irish has been under constant review in the Department of Education. Furthermore, no representations have been made to me by the Irish National Teachers' Organisation in this matter. Had such representations been made they would of course have been inquired into. I am not prepared to accept the resolution which has been passed at this private meeting as an indication of what the national education policy should be in this matter.
Arising out of the Minister's reply, would he not consider setting up a committee, on the assumption that all sides of the House are anxious to co-operate with him in promoting the best interests of the Irish language, and at least inform himself of the views of all sides of the House on the present situation, without any desire whatever to reflect on his administration of the Department of Education or on the administration of his predecessors in that office?
Would the Minister say if parents and guardians of children have anything at all to say as to the teaching methods adopted—that is to say, the teaching of other subjects through the medium of Irish—because many parents and guardians are under the impression that they have a certain amount of responsibility in that respect for the children under their care? They have been informed by many persons in authority that they have certain rights, and that they can choose whether their children shall or shall not be educated in those subjects through the medium of Irish. I should like to know from the Minister if that is so.
When the national programme conference was set up in 1926, and reported on this matter, the Deputy should have raised this question. The national policy in regard to the Irish language is that at as early a date as possible we should endeavour to make Irish the language of the schools, and make Irish the medium of instruction in the schools as far as possible. The conditions under which we asked that that should be done were laid down very clearly, and a circular was issued by the Department of Education in 1931, in which it is clearly stated, as I have often told the House, that:—
"Where a teacher is competent to teach through Irish and where the children can assimilate the instruction so given, the teacher should endeavour to extend the use of Irish as a medium of instruction as far as possible."
Furthermore, it is set out in the circular that:—
"The intention of the programme is that the schools should do their part in reviving the language as a spoken tongue by giving the pupils such a mastery of Irish as will go a long way towards ensuring that revival. The use of Irish as the medium of instruction will do more than increase the pupils' oral grasp of the language. It will convince them that the Irish language is a living speech capable of adjusting itself to the needs of modern life. There is no means of attaining this conviction, so essential to the revival movement, more potent than the general adoption of and success in the use of Irish as the medium of instruction in the schools. The success would, however, be jeopardised by premature attempts to use Irish in unsuitable conditions, and the programme therefore requires a sufficient oral knowledge from both teacher and parents before the attempt is made. Yet the attempt must obviously not be delayed until the full use of Irish in all the work and in all the classes of the school is possible. The programme therefore suggests transitional stages."
I cannot see, since it is admitted by those who are competent to speak on the matter, that we are in a transitional stage and will be for some time to come, how a commission could have any useful results. Certainly I would not stand for any departure from the principle that has been laid down of making Irish the language of the schools as far as possible and, furthermore, the use and development of Irish as the spoken tongue.
Is not the Minister aware that there is very widespread dissatisfaction amongst parents in regard to existing conditions? Is the Minister aware that some teachers may be trying to instruct children who are not competent to receive instruction through the medium of Irish? Would it not be to his own advantage to set up a commission of that kind before which interested parties could come and speak their mind, so that he can subsequently assess the value of the discontent that exists and ascertain whether there is any real justification for it? Surely no harm can be done by the setting up of such a commission, while much good may ensue?
I cannot see that parents as a body can decide this matter. I am, I think, in possession of greater knowledge and greater experience of the matter since I have occupied the position of Minister for Education than any group. Parents are always free to make representations in this matter. I think the Deputy will recognise that parents may be misled by the propaganda that has been going on, not only now but for many years past, against the national policy in regard to Irish.