Sir, - Dr Harry Ferguson of UCD (The Irish Times, September 14th) refers to a little-known programme, "Exploring Masculinities" which has been piloted in Irish schools and has now come into full operation. Although he doesn't say so, Dr Ferguson has had an input into this programme, which is targeted at young men only and looks like an attempt to reconstruct them. Few parents, if any, are aware of its contents, still fewer will have approved of it.
The external evaluator says in his report: "it is a fundamental premise of the `Exploring Masculinities' initiative that masculinity is a social construct." One has to ask if Dr Michael Woods, Minister for Education, agrees with this theory or if he is aware of the nature, content and the true objectives of this programme.
I have no wish to be alarmist but the contents need to be seen to be believed. For example, the explanatory brochure refers to a "survey conducted for Women's Aid" which found that "71 per cent of boys felt that there was some likelihood of their using violence in future relationships". On challenging this I received a letter from an official in the Department in which he admits that this information is inaccurate. So far, the Department has displayed an unwillingness to make the material available to interested parties. In a letter to me, dated September 27th 1999, Ms Maureen Bohan, a senior inspector in the Department of Education stated: "We will be delighted to send you a copy of the programme when it becomes available, should you wish to have it". However, despite repeated requests, including some under the Freedom of Information Act, I have not yet received a copy of the programme. It has been kept under wraps and away from public scrutiny. So much for transparency and openness.
The manner in which the next generation of men is being educated is of national importance and I would urge all parents and other interested parties to apply for copies of this programme under the Freedom of Information act to the Department of Education, Marlboro Street, Dublin 1. - Yours, etc.,
Mary T. Cleary, Co-ordinator, Amen, Brew's Hill, Navan, Co Meath.