Controversy over school books
There are calls to remove books "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and "Of Mice and Men" from the school curriculum.
A Meath County Councillor feels they should be banned due to their use of offensive racial language.
To Kill a Mockingbird and Of Mice and Men are prescribed texts for Junior cycle students.
Both have appeared several times on the American Library Association's list of most challenged books due to their offensive language, depiction of racism, and unsuitability for young people.
Meath Cllr. Alan Lawes wants them taken off the school curriculum.
He says families have become the target of racist abuse since their children's classes read the books.
"I was approached by two different mixed-race families who had told me their experiences over the years."
"It's nothing to do, as such, with the Black Lives Matter campaign just recent."
"One woman, Karen, has three children aged form 22, 18 and 14 - and the three of them sailed through primary school with all their school mates without an issue."
"Then they came to first year, and these sort of books are on the curriculum in first year."
"You have certain racial slurs that's repeated in these books numerous times, and then their classmates all of a sudden start to use these racial slurs to call them names."
"The mothers went up to the secondary schools, had a chat with the secondary teachers and basically there was nothing that could be done."
"[They were told] that it was a decision for the Department of Education and the Minister for Education."
"So that's why I originally put the motion forward to remove the books."
