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4th September 2024
03:35pm BST
A publisher has apologised over how it depicted a traditional Irish family in a schoolbook.
Outrage was sparked online following the circulation of an image from the page of the schoolbook, with some arguing the depiction was discriminatory.
Two images showed two different families, the first - Family A - depicted a group of red-headed people in Aran jumpers who lived in a thatched cottage.
The text reads that all the family's relatives are Irish, they don't like change or playing 'foreign games' and they eat cabbage every day.
"We get told off if we mix with people with a different religion from outs as they would be a bad influence on us," the description reads.
The parents in the family also complain that RTÉ is playing "more and more 'important trash' every day".
Meanwhile, Family B shows a mixed race family who ‘love change and difference’ and enjoy travelling around Europe and trying new foods.
The textbook then asked students to name the advantages and disadvantages of being a part of Family A and B.
In a statement on Tuesday, EdCo, who published the book, apologised for the hurt caused.
Their statement, via Extra.ie, read: "By means of background and context, the main function of this Activity (‘Looking at Difference’) is designed to help students understand the importance of diversity in our lives, to introduce students to the Equal Status Acts & to highlight the types of discrimination they cover.
"Following the students’ introduction to the Equal Status Acts, the activity uses exaggeration and hyperbole to convey the nature and effects of inclusion and bias.
"On closer inspection, we now appreciate that our approach should have been different and accept that it has caused upset and anger, even though this was not our intention.
"We have taken the decision to replace this activity and we apologise for any hurt caused."
