The portrayal of an Irish family in an SPHE book on the Irish school curriculum has been branded “insidious” by Aontú.
The Health and Wellbeing book, used to teach SPHE in the first three years of secondary school, has sparked criticism from politicians across the political spectrum.
A section titled ‘All Different, All Equal’ contrasts a traditional Irish family, depicted outside a thatched farmhouse in Aran jumpers, with a more multicultural one.
The Irish family is described as resistant to change, eating potatoes, bacon, and cabbage daily—and discouraging interactions with other religions.
In contrast, the mixed-race family is portrayed as embracing change, travelling internationally, and visiting art galleries.
Aontú rep for Blackrock, Helen Duignan, told Lunchtime Live today that the book’s “caricature” of an Irish family was a form of “brainwashing.”
“I’m not happy at all; it’s insidious,” she said.
“Some say it’s just a character, a caricature, and a stereotype that will start a discussion, but it’s much more than that because it co-themes notions of being Irish with notions of being insular and bigoted.
“This is not just an isolated one page in a book.
“It occurs within the context where the reference to developing a sense of Irish identity has now been removed completely from the primary curriculum, and that was put into the curriculum by Micheál Martin back in 1999.”
Overblown
Diana, a caller to the show who is of mixed heritage, said issues with depictions of Irish families in the book have been overblown.
“I do sometimes come across people who live their lives around the GAA, and when my son was in primary school, we had kids over who’d never eaten pizza, which I have no problem with whatsoever,” she said.
“The kids who never had pizza are probably healthier than my own if their family did like traditional food.
“As a country, we are exceptionally defensive; there’s nothing wrong with eating pizza and there’s nothing wrong with going to the GAA.”
Conversation starter
Dee from Kerry, a former SPHE teacher, said the picture starts a conversation.
“It’s a starting point and I think we underestimate how erudite our young folks are,” she said.
“Nobody has to say, ‘This is just a caricature’; it’s how it’s used in the classroom.
“Maybe it is slightly overstated and a bit stereotypical and stuff like that, but young people are very quick to see things like that.”
There are now calls for the Department of Education to drop the schoolbook from the curriculum.
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Main image: A shelf of books. Image: Kent Johnson / Alamy Stock Photo
