Sir, - M.A. Walker's letter (August 20th) about Mr Higgins's children and their linguistic preference promotes the view that somehow children know something about what should be on the school syllabus.
Is he suggesting that we should have Ken and Barbie and Big Brother on it? Several points need to be made.
1. For most people, the learning of a continental language is a waste of time from the practical point of view. I speak reasonably good French and have never made a cent from it, nor will I; but I enjoy speaking it when I can.
2. I also speak Irish very well and get even more pleasure out of being able to do so, as does everybody who can who has not been directly or indirectly inoculated with anti-Irish language prejudice Such prejudice was inculcated into the Irish by several centuries of language oppression and cultural vandalism.
3. There are only a few places in the world where the populations are ashamed of their language. In all such places (Ireland, Brittany, Scotland, Corsica) there has been a systematic suppression of the language.
4. Language prejudice is just like racism. It is not intrinsic. A very nice lady in my place of work who is virulently anti-Irish language told me that her children hated it. She was taken aback when I told her that they undoubtedly learnt this attitude from her. She had to admit that they probably did.
It is, of course, possible to learn hatred of a subject from frightful teaching.
5. I did not like Latin in school, but am now so glad I learnt it. - Is mise,
Gearoid ╙ Laoi, Merlyn Lawn, Bishopstown, Cork.