asked the Minister for Education whether, in view of his statement that his Department is not responsible for the programme or policy in operation in the national schools which was laid down by the National Programme Conference of 1925, he has made any inquiries as to whether that conference had consulted any medical opinion as to the probable effects on the physical and mental development of school children of its recommendation that English, the home language of the children and the language of life outside the schools, should be excluded from the infant classes in English-speaking districts; and, if not, whether he will now consider the advisability of consulting the school medical officers or other competent medical opinion as to the actual effect of such exclusion on the children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Teaching of Irish.
The programme prepared by the National Programme Conference of 1925-26 was then adopted by the Minister for Education as the official programme for use in national schools. I have not made any inquiry as to whether that conference consulted medical opinion on the subjects suggested by the Deputy. I do not consider that it is necessary or advisable for me to consult the school medical officers or other medical opinion as to the effect of the language programme in the infants' classes in English-speaking districts.
asked the Minister for Education whether he will consider the advisability of laying down for national schools a definite graduated minimum programme of studies in the Irish language, with the object of achieving a continuous and progressive improvement in the knowledge and use of Irish in the schools from the first to the highest standards.
I consider that the revised programme of primary instruction issued in 1934 when read in conjunction with the Notes for Teachers published by my Department for the guidance of teachers and others engaged on or interested in primary education is sufficiently definite, graduated and adaptable to suit the needs and circumstances of all types of national schools, and that it is capable of achieving the improvement suggested, in the knowledge and use of Irish in the schools from infants to highest standards.