asked the Minister for Education whether he will make available to all national schools suitably framed copies of the Proclamation of 1916, and request that these be displayed in all the classrooms.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Flag and Proclamation.
asked the Minister for Education whether he is prepared to consider the desirability of flying the National Flag during school hours from a pole provided for the purpose in each national school and to urge the formal hoisting and lowering of the flag daily in the presence of all the children and teachers.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 50 together.
If, as I would conclude, the Deputy is concerned for the growth and development of a spirit of patriotism among the pupils of our primary schools, I cannot agree that the procedure suggested offers the most effective means towards achieving that end. Patriotism should be a natural and progressive growth in our schools and the less it is inculcated through the medium of the formality which characterises most school tasks the more likely it is to take firm root in the mind and heart, and to establish itself as an influence in future conduct.
A sound knowledge of the national and cultural inheritance that has come down to us is, to my mind, the surest foundation for a spirit of patriotism. Regard and respect for the Proclamation of 1916 and the National Flag will naturally find their place in every scheme of instruction directed towards laying such a foundation, but I do not consider that symbols of national significance should be made a matter of such every-day familiarity that reverence for them would become superficial, mechanical and meaningless.
I do not, therefore, intend to act in this matter as the Deputy appears to recommend. I am strengthened in my attitude by the consideration that my Department is most careful to refrain from imposing regulations on the schools other than those which concern matters hitherto neglected or unprovided for.
I take it the Minister has noticed that I did not suggest that there should be any regulation made in the matter. I am merely suggesting that that proposal should come forward from the Department of Education to the schools. I wonder could the Minister tell the House where a child at school is likely to learn of the Proclamation of 1916 or to see it if he does not see it at school?
I think in the ordinary teaching of history in the schools such learning would come better than from the manner the Deputy suggests.
I wonder would the Minister tell the House where a child at school will learn of the Proclamation of 1916 or learn of the manner in which he should treat the flag of the country if he does not learn it at school?
I have suggested to the Deputy that I do not think that any method such as is used to inculcate the ordinary school subjects into the minds of the pupils is really the best method to utilise in inculcating the patriotism such as he and I desire. I do not believe in the method of doing it. That method is very much in vogue in America, but the American problem is completely different in so far as school-children in America come from homes of so many different nationalities with so many different traditions, and in America the Government, apparently, do consider that the main problem is trying to make Americans of children of a number of varying nationalities. We have not that problem here and I do not think we should adopt the method the Deputy suggests.