A programme to help teenage boys explore their masculinity is being pioneered in nearly 30 all-boy secondary schools with the aim of making it available to all second-level boys' schools by next September. The programme is the first of its kind in the European Union.
"Exploring Masculinity", run jointly by the Department of Education and Science and the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI), was piloted in seven schools in 1996-97 and extended to more than 20 others last year.
Introduced in transition year, when boys are aged around 16, the programme aims to raise boys' awareness of their changing roles in society, the changing nature of work, relationships, health and sexuality, and violence against women and men. Its broader aim is to promote equality, understanding and mutual respect among all young people.
The programme's introduction notes: "Men are more likely than women to be violent, to be in prison, to be in psychiatric care, to commit suicide and to be alcoholics.
"Men are less likely than women to discuss their emotional needs with men than women are with women, and are more likely to see emotionalism as a sign of weakness. Men are more likely to be threatened by change, particularly that which affects their position in society."
In an interview in the next issue of the ASTI magazine ASTIR, the principal of one school involved in the project, Mr Paul Fields of St Mary's CBS in Carlow, says boys "need someone to talk to, they need to be able to talk out about their feelings".
"We have focused-in on looking firstly at what are the difficulties in relation to negotiation skills. What is the difference between assertion and aggression? Because in some sense aggression is a step towards bullying, abuse, violence in society and domestic violence. And it's an issue that hasn't really been addressed in Ireland."
Mr Fields goes on: "Today it is girls who are more sure of themselves, motivated and hard-working. Boys are often adrift in life, under-achieving at school, struggling with relationships, at risk from alcohol and drugs. Some develop into quiet, shy and reserved teenagers. Others are the complete opposite - they are aggressive, loud and behave in a macho manner when among peers.
"The difference is immense and it can remain right through their life. This can be a trying time for any boy, his parents and school."
One element in the course at St Mary's is home economics for boys, with weekly cookery classes for transition year students.