Advertisement
If you have a new account but are having problems posting or verifying your account, please email us on hello@boards.ie for help. Thanks :)
Hello all! Please ensure that you are posting a new thread or question in the appropriate forum. The Feedback forum is overwhelmed with questions that are having to be moved elsewhere. If you need help to verify your account contact hello@boards.ie

Is there any way our children can escape having to do Irish in Primary school?

  • 29-04-2012 11:38PM
    #1
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭


    We are both Irish and we both had to do Irish in primary school, and then in secondary school, and then (as with the majority of the Irish population) neither of us ever used the language again (apart from the cupla focal). Now we have children of our own and the cycle is to begin again, our children will do compulsive Irish in Primary school, and then again in secondary school until they are seventeen or eighteen years of age, they will then go out into the big wide world, and . . . . .

    Apart from declaring that our children are dyslexic, is there any way they can escape Irish lessons?


«1

Comments

  • #2
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,449 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    LordSutch wrote: »
    We are both Irish and we both had to do Irish in primary school, and then in secondary school, and then (as with the majority of the Irish population) neither of us ever used the language again (apart from the cupla focal). Now we have children of our own and the cycle is to begin again, our children will do compulsive Irish in Primary school, and then again in secondary school until they are seventeen or eighteen years of age, they will then go out into the big wide world, and . . . . .

    Apart from declaring that our children are dyslexic, is there any way they can escape Irish lessons?
    Train to Belfast for school every day. Or get over it. Compulsory by the way. Compulsive would be different story..


  • #3
    longhalloween
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭longhalloween


    Or just move to Belfast. Then come home once the kids are over 11.


  • #4
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    So is Belfast the only place in Northern Ireland where schools don't have compulsive Irish?


  • #5
    SomeGuyCalledMi
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 223 ✭✭SomeGuyCalledMi


    Send you children to a gaelscoil. They will speak fluent Irish before their 6th birthday and they will never have to worry about it again.


  • #6
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,449 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    longhalloween wrote: »
    Or just move to Belfast. Then come home once the kids are over 11.
    Come to think of it, Newry might be handier. Won't be as many schools to choose from though. And they'll have a state curriculum to follow too. Life sucks.


  • Advertisement
  • #7
    longhalloween
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,207 ✭✭✭longhalloween


    LordSutch wrote: »
    So is Belfast the only place in Northern Ireland where schools don't have compulsive Irish?

    Or Newry? That's the only 2 towns I know. Is Derry a town as well as a county?


  • #8
    greendom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,382 ✭✭✭✭greendom


    it's great for kids to get an early experience of learning a 2nd language, even if it isn't a particularly useful one - do you really want to deprive them of that ?


  • #9
    Stripey Cat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 741 ✭✭✭Stripey Cat


    If it's compulsive, then you won't be able to stop them.


  • #10
    darlett
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,316 ✭✭✭darlett


    Genuine question...Irish is compulsory, but does it actually matter if at the end of day, a pupil doesnt sit his/her Irish exam? They fail it, moving forward does it affect them? Does it perhaps stop them getting into college as a basic requirement? And if it does, what about if they get a pass in foundation?


  • #11
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    It's a compulsory part of the Irish curriculum. Get over it, or home-school them if you feel that strongly about it.


  • Advertisement
  • #12
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    greendom wrote: »
    it's great for kids to get an early experience of learning a 2nd language, even if it isn't a particularly useful one - do you really want to deprive them of that ?

    We visit the German side of the family at least twice a year, and I have always thought that if I had kids it be great for them to learn and speak German as a 2nd language. I honestly can't see why Irish has to be compulsive in this day and age of travel for work, and family living abroad.

    - sorry.


  • #13
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,449 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    longhalloween wrote: »
    LordSutch wrote: »
    So is Belfast the only place in Northern Ireland where schools don't have compulsive Irish?

    Or Newry? That's the only 2 towns I know. Is Derry a town as well as a county?
    And this is what happens! If only all that time wasted on Irish had been spent on geography. I spent years studying maths. I'm rubbish at maths. Why did I have to study maths?!? All those kids starting school now will also have years if maths ahead of them. They might be rubbish at it too. Waste of time...


  • #14
    Tigger
    Closed Accounts Posts: 16,705 ✭✭✭✭Tigger


    Geography is compulsory up till junior cert and it seems useless all you. We'd is google maps


  • #15
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,449 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    LordSutch wrote: »
    greendom wrote: »
    it's great for kids to get an early experience of learning a 2nd language, even if it isn't a particularly useful one - do you really want to deprive them of that ?

    We visit the German side of the family at least twice a year, and I have always thought that if I had kids it be great for them to learn and speak German as a 2nd language. I honestly can't see why Irish has to be compulsive in this day and age of travel for work, and family living abroad.

    - sorry.
    Get them German lessons? Why limit them to two languages? Neither of which, with any luck, will be compulsive.


  • #16
    greendom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,382 ✭✭✭✭greendom


    LordSutch wrote: »
    We visit the German side of the family at least twice a year, and I have always thought that if I had kids it be great for them to learn and speak German as a 2nd language. I honestly can't see why Irish has to be compulsive in this day and age of travel for work, and family living abroad.

    - sorry.

    No need to apologise, it's your choice.


  • #17
    number10a
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭number10a


    Exempting from them from Irish also would exempt them from ever becoming a teacher in this country. As primary teachers, they'd obviously need to use it every day. But even in secondary, you need to pass a test in Irish to register as a teacher, regardless of what you're teaching. I know a Welsh guy qualified to teach the science subjects in secondary and he can't do it here because of the Irish requirement. It's stupid, but them's the rules.


  • #18
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    Looks like I've walked into the Gaelscoileanna appreciation society here.

    Oops.


  • #19
    number10a
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭number10a


    Tigger wrote: »
    Geography is compulsory up till junior cert and it seems useless all you. We'd is google maps

    That depends on the school. In fact, the only subject that is compulsory in Irish secondary schools is Irish. After that, it's up to the school and/or the student. Good luck getting into college without English and Maths of course. :D


  • #20
    greendom
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,382 ✭✭✭✭greendom


    LordSutch wrote: »
    Looks like I've walked into the Gaelscoileanna appreciation society here.

    Oops.

    I think you have your answer though. No unless you're prepared to move out of the Republic.


  • #21
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    Thanks greendom, it looks like there is no escape for our little ones.


  • Advertisement
  • #22
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,449 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    number10a wrote: »
    Exempting from them from Irish also would exempt them from ever becoming a teacher in this country. As primary teachers, they'd obviously need to use it every day. But even in secondary, you need to pass a test in Irish to register as a teacher, regardless of what you're teaching. I know a Welsh guy qualified to teach the science subjects in secondary and he can't do it here because of the Irish requirement. It's stupid, but them's the rules.
    I registered as a teacher without any mention if an Irish requirement. Did I miss something?


  • #23
    BrianBoru00
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,035 ✭✭✭BrianBoru00


    number10a wrote: »
    Exempting from them from Irish also would exempt them from ever becoming a teacher in this country. As primary teachers, they'd obviously need to use it every day. But even in secondary, you need to pass a test in Irish to register as a teacher, regardless of what you're teaching. I know a Welsh guy qualified to teach the science subjects in secondary and he can't do it here because of the Irish requirement. It's stupid, but them's the rules.

    Thats NOT true. Seriously, How do people just make up such rubbish??:mad:


  • #24
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,449 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    LordSutch wrote: »
    Looks like I've walked into the Gaelscoileanna appreciation society here.

    Oops.
    Nope. The shoulder-chip spotters AGM. Gaelscoileanna appreciation society is next door.


  • #25
    dlofnep
    Closed Accounts Posts: 20,759 ✭✭✭✭dlofnep


    LordSutch wrote: »
    Thanks greendom, it looks like there is no escape for our little ones.

    I'm sure they'll live. Who knows, they might even like it.


  • #26
    number10a
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,062 ✭✭✭number10a


    BrianBoru00 wrote: »
    Thats NOT true. Seriously, How do people just make up such rubbish??:mad:

    Going by what two people have told me I thought this was true, one who is Irish with crap Gaeilge who managed a pass, one Welsh who didn't have a snowman's chance in Hell of getting through and now works in a lab instead of teaching science. Maybe it has changed recently since I spoke to these people. But, this is coming straight from people who it directly affected, so forgive me for taking their words for it.


  • #27
    LordSutch
    Closed Accounts Posts: 12,076 ✭✭✭✭LordSutch


    endacl wrote: »
    Nope. The shoulder-chip spotters AGM. Gaelscoileanna appreciation society is next door.

    Thanks a lot endacl, but original question was genuine, and as I have said in a previous post, Irish will be of little use to our children, while German would be very useful to us as a fimily as we spend a lot of time there with the kids due to family connections. Anyway, it looks like the kids will do Irish in primary & secondary school for the next fourteen years, and that's that :(

    On a side note, we go to a creche three days a week and there are a couple of Polish Mums & Dads (with polish speaking tots) who have asked is it possible to substitute Irish for Polish in school? and obviously its not, but it is interesting to see how the population is changing and how language needs are changing too.


  • #28
    Feeona
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,633 ✭✭✭Feeona


    LordSutch wrote: »
    Thanks a lot endacl, but original question was genuine, and as I have said in a previous post, Irish will be of little use to our children, while German would be very useful to us as a fimily as we spend a lot of time there with the kids due to family connections. Anyway, it looks like the kids will do Irish in primary & secondary school for the next fourteen years, and that's that :(

    On a side note, we go to a creche three days a week and there are a couple of Polish Mums & Dads (with polish speaking tots) who have asked is it possible to substitute Irish for Polish in school? and obviously its not, but it is interesting to see how the population is changing and how language needs are changing too.

    I don't know why you're getting such a hard time from other posters over a simple question to be honest! Irish is a good introduction for learning a second language (or third in your childrens' case) It's also nice to be able to read signs as Gaeilge, and have a bit of knowledge about the Irish culture. The kids will be fine with it, get them to teach you a few words, it might revive a bit of interest in the language for you!

    As for teaching Polish instead of Irish, it's amazing how quickly foreign nationals pick up Irish. From my experience, they're better at it than the Irish kids!


  • #29
    Stripey Cat
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 741 ✭✭✭Stripey Cat


    I don't know why you're getting such a hard time from other posters over a simple question to be honest!

    It was the repeated use of "compulsive" that got to me.


  • #30
    Seanchai
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,401 ✭✭✭Seanchai


    Feeona wrote: »
    I don't know why you're getting such a hard time from other posters over a simple question to be honest!

    You're clearly unfamiliar with Lord Sutch's political views on things Irish. The pattern is well established; feigned shock at the existence of some Irish view/tradition etc, and then the standard unionist bigotry: anything but Irish, anything but their culture. You'll find his posts glorifying British imperialism and their poppy commemorations, his posts calling those who fought for Irish freedom throughout the centuries "terrorists" and so on in both the After Hours and Politics fora. His old username was Camelot, and boy did he have "interesting" views on things Irish!


  • Advertisement
  • #31
    endacl
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,449 ✭✭✭✭endacl


    LordSutch wrote: »
    endacl wrote: »
    Nope. The shoulder-chip spotters AGM. Gaelscoileanna appreciation society is next door.

    Thanks a lot endacl, but original question was genuine, and as I have said in a previous post, Irish will be of little use to our children, while German would be very useful to us as a fimily as we spend a lot of time there with the kids due to family connections. Anyway, it looks like the kids will do Irish in primary & secondary school for the next fourteen years, and that's that :(

    On a side note, we go to a creche three days a week and there are a couple of Polish Mums & Dads (with polish speaking tots) who have asked is it possible to substitute Irish for Polish in school? and obviously its not, but it is interesting to see how the population is changing and how language needs are changing too.
    It wasn't so much the question I responded to, as the tone of your post. Perfectly reasonable question, but 'no escape for our little ones'? Come on...

    The vast majority of what we learn in school, beyond arithmetic and literacy, is from a utilitarian view, mostly pointless. The 'useful' stuff comes later through higher education and experience. What a child does is develop an ability to learn and to reason, which they will go on to use later in life. Education is about developing facility.

    If your child at eight develops a passionate interest in dinosaurs, are you going to ban dinosaur books from the house, as they are extinct and of no use in the modern world?

    Let your 'little ones' take advantage of the opportunity to develop their enormous capacity for acquiring language. If Irish is the tool, so what? The ability they develop can then be applied to any language you, in your wisdom, deem useful.


This discussion has been closed.
Advertisement