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National Symbols and Practices in the Everyday of Irish Education

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Childhood and Nation

Part of the book series: Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood ((CCSC))

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Abstract

This chapter considers issues on the often invisible symbols and practices of nationalism in education, and how it is received by nonnationals and Irish Travellers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, with a particular focus on the potential to shape children’s national identities. Through the theoretical lens offered by Michael Billig (1995) and further developed by Matthew Benwell and Klaus Dodds (2011), I explore constructions of national identity through symbols and practices within the education system and the everyday of schooling that influence children’s formation of national identities and lead to inclusions and exclusions. During the analysis I raise questions about children’s future identities and ask if national identities are in fact on the decline or whether these symbols heighten children’s awareness of national belonging. This examination is particularly important in a context characterized by “hot nationalist passion” (Billig 1995, 44) continuously fuelling national unrest, as the case in Northern Ireland.

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Authors
  1. Marguerita Magennis
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Zsuzsa Millei Robert Imre

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© 2016 Marguerita Magennis

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Magennis, M. (2016). National Symbols and Practices in the Everyday of Irish Education. In: Millei, Z., Imre, R. (eds) Childhood and Nation. Critical Cultural Studies of Childhood. Palgrave Macmillan, New York. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137477835_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137477835_7

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, New York

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-55573-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-137-47783-5

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

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