Sir, – Under the guise of Junior Cycle Reform, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment has removed from the core curriculum the systematic study of history and geography. This is a mistake of such cultural and economic significance that it can not go ignored. Our tourism economy is dependent upon an appreciation of history and geography.
Our politics, North and South, affects and is affected by history and geography. When we invite American presidents to visit, to encourage American investment, we do so with appeals to visit the “oul sod” – the land itself. When Queen Elizabeth came to Ireland, history determined where she visited first. And when we develop plans to use the Diaspora to assist our economic recovery, we appeal to their identity to their historical and geographical ties to Ireland.
It is clear that removing from the core curriculum a systematic study of history and geography will negatively impact secondary school students’ ability to appreciate the significance of these disciplines. What a pity that in their rush to change the Junior Cycle, the NCCA doesn’t appear to have considered the economic, cultural and general societal impact of their “reforms”. – Yours, etc,