Sir, – Jacinta Brack of the Irish Traveller Movement tells us (Letters, November 27th) that Travellers are a "distinct ethnic group" with "dual identity" who have a "distinct culture" and "language".
Children classified as Travellers do have a rich cultural inheritance.
It is the same as the cultural inheritance of all other children. It is the rich Irish, European and global cultural inheritance.
To enable them to receive this inheritance and develop their full potential involves the promotion of successful participation and persistence, from pre-school to college, in the educational system. This is of urgent importance for young male Travellers.
That educational system promotes the study and mastery of real languages.
Advocating artificial ethnic difference, however well-intentioned, is to create a false agenda in the promotion of the full potential of children classified as Travellers and therefore may put their advancement at risk. – Yours, etc, SEÁN McDONAGH Raheny, Dublin 5.