Department of Education accused of 'woke ideology' and 'grooming' over new curriculum
Ken Foxe
The Department of Education was flooded with emails accusing it of “woke ideology” and “grooming” as part of a review of primary school education.
The department launched new curriculum specifications last year but found itself at the centre of a ‘culture wars’ campaign.
More than 100 representations were received, with some parents threatening to remove their kids from school over the changes.
One wrote: “We are a Christian family, and my children attend a Catholic school in Wicklow, and I will take my children out of the class while this disgraceful woke ideology is being taught to the poor innocent minds of children.”
Another claimed there was “no shortage of grooming” as young students were being educated about sexuality in schools.
A message said: “My school is a Catholic school, and these teachings are against what we read in the Bible.”
Many of the complaints centred on the removal of “God and preparation for the holy sacraments” from the classroom.
An email said: “Instead, the teachings of these alternative ways of life as educational material to our young children is not acceptable.”
Another wrote about the use of ‘they/them’ pronouns in the classroom and said they were concerned about lack of transparency over the changes.
One message said the department was trying to “force their agenda of transgender and homosexuality [sic] ideology” into schools.
“As a parent of a young girl aged eight, both myself and my wife will not allow our daughter to attend any class that promotes or endorses this ideology,” their email said.
Another said they were “appalled” that primary school children were being taught about other sexualities at primary school.
One person wrote: “Many adults struggle to understand these topics, yet you see fit to force these inappropriate topics on children.”
In one email, a parent took aim at teaching about sexuality and the provision of free school meals to children.
“Is it not the parent’s decision as to what we deem adequate for our children to eat or now learn?” they said.
Another mocked the curriculum asking if children were to be given a “menu” for choosing their sexual orientation.
Not all of the correspondence related to teaching around sexuality with one person saying education on “faith formation” should be moved out of school hours.
An email said: “Children's rights need to be respected. It's not about parents’ choice. There often is no choice. It's about children’s rights to a factual, modern education.”
One secondary school student said they were unhappy about how the new curriculum seemed to put emphasis on international languages rather than Irish.
They wrote: “I think this is erasing our culture. I also think the way Gaeilge is taught in secondary school is a disgrace.
“I think this [is] as it is taught like everyone understands the language as it is taught more like English.”
Asked about the records, a department spokesman said last September’s launch of the redeveloped primary curriculum specifications was the most comprehensive transformation in over a generation.
The spokesman said: “A significant amount of feedback was gathered during the consultation from a wide range of stakeholders.
“Participants contributed through a variety of methods, including focus groups, bilateral meetings, consultative conference, Schools Networks, questionnaires, and written submissions.
“Children from schools across the country were also consulted with. All the feedback was subsequently analysed using methodologies appropriate to the type of feedback, leading to the publication of the two consultation reports, which are available online.”
