Investing in SPHE resources and teacher training is needed to deal with the rise of incel culture and misogyny.

Teachers and students say Netflix's new drama Adolescence highlights the need to provide courses on media literacy to deal with the issue.

Tánaiste Simon Harris told the Dáil yesterday he thinks the programme about the 13-year-old boy should be compulsory viewing in secondary schools.

Irish Second-Level Students Union President Jack McGinn said it will need to be incorporated into the curriculum quickly.

“I think it's quite urgent, I think it would need to be in place for September if we really want to get a chance at cracking down on it,” he said.

“I think the sad reality is like, while it is a ‘make believe’ Netflix show, it's based on real stories and those stories aren't just from the UK.

“We've seen those stories in Ireland - quite high profile cases as well.”

Adolescence. Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller in Adolescence. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024

Northern Ireland's First Minister Michelle O'Neill said she would be supportive of the idea of children being shown Adolescence in northern schools.

“I haven't seen the programme yet, but I believe it's very powerful,” she said.

“I think that we should always lean into any tool that actually help us to, you know, drive home that message that we must end violence against women and girls or anything that calls out the misogyny and the issues that we have in society.

“I look forward to getting to see the programme.”

However, pressing play on Netflix's Adolescence show in classrooms isn't enough to tackle misogynistic behaviour, according to teachers and students.

 

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It has been claimed that teachers should have access to courses to upskill and deal with the rise of misogynistic behaviour in the classroom.

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland General Secretary Kieran Christie said more action needs to be taken.

“What's lacking is resources and what's lacking is training and what's lacking is investment in this whole area,” he said.

“Certainly, the problem won't be solved in relation to toxic masculinity and its influence on our younger people by prescribing that they all watch an individual television series.

“Teachers feel inadequately prepared and inadequately trained.

“There is only on third level institution who are providing a post graduate diploma course, for instance, in relation to this whole area - that should be expanded and rolled out across all the education departments.”

Close-up of two teenagers sitting and standing in the street. Image: Alamy

Mr McGinn said the current curriculum should be expanded.

“What's already in the curriculum? Can we implement that immediately and under senior cycle redevelopment - can we push this further?” he asked.

“Can the curriculum include pieces to combat that toxic masculinity?

“Really the root cause of the issue, as you saw on the Netflix show, was bullying, so how do we combat that?”

Adolescence. (L to R) Stephen Graham as Eddie Miller, Owen Cooper as Jamie Miller, in Adolescence. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2024