asked the Minister for Education if he is aware that, owing to the cramming of the national schools programme with subjects of secondary importance, enough time is not devoted to character forming, and that a serious decline is noticeable in the younger generation in regard to respect for the truth, respect for the pledged word, and willingness for manual work on the land, and if he will take steps to see that more time is devoted to character forming, and inculcating respect for manual labour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Schools Programme.
The Programme of Instruction (1926, page 21) and the Rules and Regulations for National Schools (Rules 95 and 125) lay special emphasis on the fact that the character training of the pupils is the primary duty of a teacher. Character training is not a subject of instruction on a time basis, but is to be treated in the manner which experience shows is productive of the best results, that is, by the inculcation of the moral and civic virtues in connection with all the work of the school. Rule 125 (2) summarises what is expected in this connection as follows:—
"In forming an estimate of the value of the professional work of a teacher, the inspector should keep constantly before his mind the extent to which the education given has contributed to the formation of character, the training in good habits, the development of the pupils' intelligence, the strengthening of the sense of personal and national self-respect and generally the preparation of the pupils to take their place as good and useful citizens of their country."