I thank the Cathaoirleach. My Adjournment matter relates to the suitability of certain textbooks for inclusion on the primary school curriculum. It arises from an approach to me from parents in Munster who are concerned about the content of an English textbook, Magic Emerald, used by sixth class students. Parents are worried that a poem in the book portrays grandparents as old, useless, and a waste of space and recommends they be “exterminated”. As an adult, I find the word “exterminated” to be strong, so it is unusual to encounter it in a book to be used by ten to 12 year olds. I have read the offending poem which describes how a child feeds into a computer various questions on grandparents. The computer replies that grandparents have slow brains, are a waste of space and that their hair and teeth are falling out. I consider the illustration of grandparents, including the suggestion that they should be exterminated, to be quite ageist. The textbook is accompanied by a workbook, which inspires students to debate the matter. Good teachers will ensure balance in such a debate.
Parents are shocked, alarmed and dismayed. They have contacted the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform on several occasions to argue that the poem may contravene legislation on incitement to hatred or equality. He suggested that the matter was within the ambit of the Minister for Education and Science, to whom a letter was sent by parents, pointing out the inappropriateness of this series of texts. The response to this letter was merely an acknowledgment that it had been received. The parents are disappointed that they have not been told who is responsible for vetting textbooks used in primary schools. I was unable to tell them.
I do not wish to argue for censorship, but I do not know whether it is the responsibility of a syllabus committee, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment or another similar national council, school boards of management, individual teachers or school principals. Nobody seems to be able to say how curricula are formed. There may be other offensive texts.
I remember that Gemma Hussey authorised an audit of the language used in textbooks. She felt that the word "he" in textbooks should be replaced with "he or she". She was equally annoyed by the stereotyping of males and females, as Daidí was always ag tiomáint an gluaisteáin or ag imirt peile leis na buachaillí. He was having a great time while poor Mamaí was sa chistin and poor Máire was ag cabhrú le Mamaí. An attractive lifestyle for women was not indicated in those texts. Ms Hussey gender-proofed texts, but I wonder who is responsible for vetting books in this era of multi-media and learning materials of all shapes and sizes. The book to which I originally referred was published by Fallon Publishers; it did not appear elsewhere. Who is responsible in the Department of Education and Science for dealing with the definite and understandable concerns of parents in relation to the textbook Magic Emerald? I would appreciate a reply from the Minister.
