Should Irish be totally optional in secondary schools?

We want Irish society to be a real society, a cohesive one, not just a lot of different communities that happen to be in the same place geographically.

Having things in common, including how we think and feel about life, is a really important glue for any society.

Knowing at least some Irish - which will give you, perhaps only on an unconscious level, an alternative way of thinking to just being able to speak English. It's a huge thing. You don't have to be fluent at all, but just having that connection to the past of this place, and knowing that even in 20 generations we'll never be wholly American or English, we'll be our own thing - that's huge.

As Joni Mitchell sings: Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone...

It’s got to be mandatory if there’s a chance for the language to become mainstream.

Should be optional. It's been compulsory since the 30s. I'm almost 40 and even after all that Irish I still speak German better. Given the choice I'd have done history, psychology, social sciences, programming, Christ even a driving licence would be more useful. How about a class on mental health, emotional regulation and healthy relationships. Maybe construct a healthy society that speaks a little Irish over whatever it currently is. Ditch the gaeilge in secondary.

I don't know about mandatory vs optional but it baffles me that so few people care about the only thing that makes us unique, about wanting our beautiful native language to disappear completely.

Optional all day long. Making it compulsory is a recipe for resentment which isn't conducive to earnest study of any subject. If Irish was widely spoken in Ireland or elsewhere then it would make perfect sense for it to be compulsory.

No, it shouldnt be compulsory. BUT I think there should be thought given to making people want to learn it. At the moment there is zero incentive for 99% of the population (yes I pulled that number out of my ass) What that incentive should be is for brighter people than me.

A lot of the time the comments about the education system are repeated in every thread. Just know that these debates are really tired at this point. Consider listening to Irish language activists, I recommend the Motherfoclóir podcast, here is an episode about cliche opinions on Irish

https://www.headstuff.org/motherfocloir/96-hot-gael-summer-cliches-in-opinion-pieces-about-irish/

**Irish has broad support throughout the country and is increasingly popular among young people:**

https://www.rte.ie/news/elections-2019/2019/0525/1051603-rte-tg4-exit-poll/

"A RED C exit poll for RTÉ and TG4 indicates that 60% of the population believe it is important to use, promote and protect the Irish language."

"69% of the people questioned, and who are aged between 18-34, as well as 60% of those between the ages of 35-54, believe that it is very important to promote the Irish language. "

Another report confirming majority support

https://www.forasnagaeilge.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Attitudes-towards-Irish-2015.pdf

has that and other stats as well like

"In the Republic, almost two-thirds (64 percent) believe that Ireland would lose its identity without the Irish language."

Another report "Report finds most want more Government support for Irish language"

https://web.archive.org/web/20181103153553/https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/report-finds-most-want-more-government-support-for-irish-language-883000.html



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**"But we could be learning '''useful''' subjects make Irish optional for those who speak it"**

The purpose of education is not training for a job. It has a broader role within society and culture is a part of it. Should have more mandatory subjects not fewer really, as the saying goes "Specialisation is for insects". 

Even aside from the purpose and goals of the state, the intellectual and cultural benefits are huge.

**"But English is the lingua franca worlwide/I want my child educated in English only"**

We already do speak English.  We will always speak English. English speakers are not and never will be a persecuted group lol. They will merely receive the gift of bilingualism.

***Luckily the number of speakers and gaelscoileanna is increasing.***

There was already a thread today about they way Irish is thought in school

You'll be retreading the same topics.

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Yes, absolutely. Waste of time. Business, maths and science are where time should be spent.

The Irish language will be kept alive by people who view it as part of their Irish cultural identity and others like myself don’t give a shit and I’m honestly offended that people think the Irish identity would die if the language wasn’t badly taught in schools and kids(including myself) tragically develop a resentment toward it being forced on us.

The English forced the English language on us and then fools thought it was a good idea to force the Irish language on people to counter that??. We have the freedom to speak Irish if we please, that’s enough.

Irish should be optional after the Junior Cert. And I say that as someone who did very well in Higher Level Leaving Cert Irish. Secondary school Irish - particularly at Leaving Cert level - is all about the exams, not communication.

Newstalk survey question 45

It should be a privilege to learn and speak Irish

End of

The Irish language taliban will be along shortly to shout you down, and tell you that you're not a real Irish person unless you spend your every waking hour practicing the modh coinníollach.

I agree btw, far too much emphasis on forcing children to learn the language. I think it'd do better as an optional subject left to those who really like it, with more emphasis on adult education in this area.

No.

There is no Ireland without the Irish language.