asked the Minister for Education if it is intended to actively encourage the use of newspapers in the classroom and if he will indicate the method by which it is intended to implement this policy.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Newspapers in Classrooms.
25.
My Department have for many years actively encouraged the use of newspapers as a classroom resource in appropriate circumstances. This encouragement is given in the context of in-service courses and of work on resources and methodology during inspection. There are also official recommendations in regard to subjects such as Irish and civics. Newspapers are considered appropriate as support materials in many areas of curriculum, such as modern languages, economics, geography, business organisation, home economics. Excerpts from newspapers of the past are frequently used as source materials in the teaching of history and have, in fact, appeared on examination papers.
It is my intention to encourage continuation and extension of this policy as appropriate. It must be borne in mind, however, that the choice and use of classroom resources is primarily a matter for the individual teacher.