asked the Minister for Education if it is the intention of his Department to set up a text book committee in order to ensure that text books and readers suitable for city children will be available in the Irish language, and if he is aware that in the opinion of many city teachers one of their main difficulties in making Irish the spoken language of all pupils is due to the fact that an Irish vocabulary is acquired by pupils completely divorced from the background of their own environment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Irish Text Books for City Children.
My Department does not compile or prepare text books for the teaching of Irish or of any other subject in national schools. Such books are made available by commercial firms and the usual procedure is to present a proposed book in manuscript or typescript for official approval before printing. There is a special committee of experienced inspectors to which scripts so presented are submitted for judgment. Books officially sanctioned are placed on a list which is available to managers and teachers, and from which they are free to choose the books they desire to have used in their schools.
The aim in the selection of reading books in Irish has been to secure texts which are composite rather than specific as regards matter and which can be used with advantage both in rural and urban areas. It would not be in accordance with the best educational practice to confine the vocabulary of the texts used merely to the activities and objects which might be expected to come within the pupils' day-to-day experience. The function of the reading book is not alone to supply such a vocabulary, but to extend and enlarge it by the inclusion of lessons conveying information regarding places, objects and activities ranging beyond their ordinary experience and environment.
I am, however, in deference to the Deputy's suggestion, prepared to have the matter investigated with a view to ascertaining whether there is a genuine need for any alteration in the present mode of procedure.