Teaching primary school students about the role of trade unions is about making workplaces better, a teachers union has said.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) is encouraging discussions around trade unions in Irish society for 5th and 6th class pupils.
The INTO has designed a series of lesson plans, called 'Trade Unions 101', that can be used at any stage of the school year.
INTO Deputy General-Secretary Deirdre O'Connor told Newstalk Breakfast the lessons fit with History class.
"We're calling for our teachers to undertake a series of five lessons with children in 5th and 6th class that give them the background to trade unionism in Ireland and also the benefits of being in a trade union," she said.
"They're five standalone lessons but they're linked with the primary curriculum, particularly the History and indeed the methodology in the English curriculum.
"I think they fit very nicely in with what teachers would be doing in the curriculum at this time".
'Fundamental'
Ms O’Connor said the lessons would be about workplaces rather than politics.
"We're talking to them about the workplace and issues that matter to people in the workplace, like how a trade union can help you to get better pay, to get better conditions," she said.
"I think what we're talking about teaching them is about a very fundamental part of our labour system in Ireland.
"This is about the workplace, this is about what goes on in the workplace".
'Very wide curriculum'
Ms O’Connor said trade unionism "is part of our history".
"The History curriculum is a very wide curriculum and it teaches children about all kinds of things in our history," she said.
"There's a wide range of things there that they can learn about in terms of the history of our country.
"This is not going to be the sole focus of anybody's History lessons in their classroom.
"What we're teaching them about is how they can make their workplace better when they grow and they go into the workplace," she added.
Ms O’Connor said the campaign coincides with Ireland’s first Trade Union Week.
"This week is a really important week for trade unions; it's our union week," she said.
"Today is Workers Memorial Day where we talk about health and safety in the workplace.
"Mayday falls in this week as well," she added.
The INTO says it has designed the lesson plans "to commemorate the historic struggles of workers and the gains made through the labour movement".
