Posted by SchoolDays Newshound, on 24/09/2015. Tags: Education And Politics Teachers Parenting
Teachers' Union the
Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) this week launched a new resource entitled "Different families, same love" to primary schools around Ireland to promote and encourage positive discussion of the different family forms including multi ethnic, one parent families and LGBT parents in Irish society.
The
pack, launched last Monday, contains a poster for primary school classrooms and gives lessons, advice and ideas to ‘help teachers with the changing educational landscape at primary level.’ It was produced by the INTO LGBT Teachers’ Group.
At the launch, Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan, spoke positively of the diversity pack, the first of its kind in an Irish classroom. According to
INTO, she said:
‘This practical resource will be invaluable to teachers in creating inclusive classrooms. It will also aid in successfully implementing the compulsory Anti-Bullying Procedures. These procedures require every school in the country to engage in preventative and educational strategies to tackle homophobic and transphobic bullying. This poster will contribute to the work that primary schools are already doing in this regard and furthermore sends out a clear message to the LGBT children and LGBT-headed families of our society that they are welcome and cherished in our schools.’
The INTO said that the diversity pack ‘ attempts to redress the lack of representation of children from different family structures in classroom life. At the same time it promotes values of tolerance, understanding and diversity.’
However the
Independent reports today that a row has broken out over the poster which is being sent to schools. According to the Independent, Dr John Murray, Charmain of the Iona Institute, has challenged the use of the poster in schools where its message runs counter to the school's ethos. Dr Murray is quoted in the
Independent as saying that "Denominational schools should be allowed to be denominational. The problem with this poster is that it seems to require, or suggest to teachers, that they teach in a way that treats all family forms as being the same".
The poster which can be seen
here is due to be distributed to all primary schools next month.
Comments
John
(25-09-2015 10:43)
If "Gay Families" were so natural, there would be no need for a poster to "guide Children", just as there has never been the need for one to explain the single mother/foster parents/adopted children families.
This is instead typical of spoonfeeding propaganda at an early stage.
Interestingly the Minister, before teh referendum, stated and repeated publicly that the YES vote prevailing would not prompt any change of curriculum on this subject... another lie from a politician and another shady, cunning, Machiavellian step from the Wallstreet/Hollywood agenda...