asked the Minister for Education whether any principles are laid down for the guidance of officers of his Department in sanctioning books for the teaching of Irish in the national schools, and, if so, whether he can state what these principles are.
Written Answers. - Teaching of Irish.
The general principles applied in sanctioning books, whether in Irish or in English, for use in national schools are as follows:—
Books, whether in Irish or in English, submitted for use as readers in the different standards in national schools should conform to the following standard:—
(1) They should be printed in clear type on good paper, and firmly bound;
(2) They should be well illustrated by good artists, by photographs or by properly proportioned diagrams, and should be turned out in an attractive and artistic form;
(3) They should be Christian in spirit, national in outlook, and truthful as regards facts;
(4) They should be interesting as well as instructive;
(5) They should be examples of good style;
(6) They should—
(a) include matter in prose and poetry drawn from the hero stories of Ireland and of the world,
(b) deal extensively with the important facts of life in Ireland, and
(c) have an Irish outlook and a definite rural bias.
(7) They should be free from matter objectionable to any religious denomination.
(8) They should be of suitable price.
Readers in Irish should not contain any English translation of the matter. They may contain certain questions in Irish on the lessons. Explanations in Irish or in English of words or phrases of uncommon use or peculiar to certain districts may be given at the end of the book. In the case of the more advanced books, a vocabulary with the equivalent Irish or English words may be given at the end of the book.
Text-books in mathematics, history, geography, etc., should be constructed on approved lines in accordance with the aim of the school programme.
I would also refer the Deputy to the recommendations, on the selection of school texts for the junior, middle and senior divisions of national schools, on pages 49-50 of the Notes for Teachers on the teaching of Irish. The principles underlying these recommendations are also kept in view in the sanctioning of books for use in national schools. I am sending the Deputy a copy of the notes referred to.