Fuddland

I really didn’t think I’d reached the age of “Things sure have changed since my day”-type recollections, but the title of Lyle’s recent post reminded me of something that happened to me at school, in about 1986 or ‘87 [I think I was in the fourth year of Primary School]. I don’t recall exactly why we were doing this, but the set-up was as follows: I was working with one other pupil and a support teacher, and we’d been given two sets of cards. On one set were written various nationalities: English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, etc. And on the other set were written different stereotypes, which we had to match to the nationality. For example, for the English we had “posh”.

I don’t recall specifically what the stereotype was for each nation—although I’m sure I could guess pretty accurately—but I do remember vividly that for the Irish, the matching card was supposed to be “stupid”. That’s exactly what it was written on the card: the word “stupid”. I knew that was the answer they wanted us to come up with. But I remember refusing to match them up; not actively protesting [being the shy retiring type], but I looked at all the options and said I couldn’t see any that matched up with “Irish”. So the teacher told me—taught me—that the Irish were stupid.

#1

Lyle | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 09:15

Dear Lord, that’s a vile way to be “educated”. The post title’s been changed, and I’ll be writing some follow-up thoughts today.

Plus, I hadn’t realised how much younger you were than me! *grin*

#2

Gordon | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 10:06

Unfortunately, as with every profession, there are some people who just shouldn’t be doing the job.

And yeah I always thought you were older… odd that.

#3

David | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 10:21

Re #1 & #2: Must be all that mature and thoughtful content I regularly post on this site. ;)

For the record, I’m a spritely 28 years old—29 in September. Now pass me those Werther’s Originals…

#4

Lyle | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 10:34

Ok, now I feel like a right little underachiever…

#5

Kav | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 13:03

I’m sorry but I really don’t see the problem. Should we really get upset with teachers telling us facts????

Actually on a serious note, perhaps the drive was to get you to understand that people hold stereotypes and that they are a bad thing? How clear is your memory on the bit after that?

#6

Lyle | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 13:30

On personal knowledge, I’d say that teaching “the Irish are stupid” is emplhatically NOT a fact. On the other hand, it’s definitely a stereotype.

#7

David | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 13:41

Re #5 & #6: Yeah, I’m pretty sure Kav was kidding about the fact thing! But no, unfortunately there was no such moral message being taught, it really wasn’t that sophisticated. The whole thing was about matching the stereotypes, no follow-up “…and of course it’s wrong to think these are true” lesson.

#8

graeme | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 14:12

And thus it was also wrong to be ‘taught’ that the English are Posh. Except in my case of course.

#9

Kav | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 14:12

Was I kidding?
Well of course I was. With a name like Kavanagh I am the last person to start flinging mud, or potatoes :)

Very sad lesson then. But you were also taught that the English were posh. What were the French I wonder?

#10

David | 2005 / 02 / 17 – 14:20

I fear this thread is in danger of demonstrating Godwin’s Law. ;)

#11

Richard | 2005 / 02 / 18 – 21:01

I understand that Godwin’s law has been officially renamed to “Ken Livingstone’s Law”.

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