Re: Decade of Commemoration Initiatives Primary Schools History Competition
November 2nd 2015
Dear Principal,
I am writing to you regarding the Decade of Commemoration, which continues with a number of
celebrations in the spring of 2016. The Network of Education Centres has come together to propose
a series of local history related activities/initiatives/projects which will assist
principals/teachers/students in focusing on the celebrations and to engage in a proactive sense in
celebrating this significant time within their own school setting.
The initiative is aimed at supporting schools in their preparation for the Proclamation Day on March
15th 2016. The materials can also be used as part of the Schools’ Collection 1916 Project, and the
1916 Ancestry Project. All of the materials prepared can be used as part of the 1916 Celebrations
next March, in each participating primary school. We have decided to run this initiative now, so that
schools can begin to prepare early for this momentous historical occasion and also to allow schools
to see what materials they have for display purposes on March 15th 2016. In addition to the above we
are also holding a series of workshops in our Education Centre to support teachers in this initiative.
Details of these workshops will be forwarded to each school.
The aim of this year’s 1916 initiative is to encourage students to research, reflect, find and observe
history in their own local area. For the purposes of ensuring a broad themed approach to local
history, we have divided the theme into four areas.
(a) School Days in 1916: Junior & Senior Infant Classes
This theme can include any of the following suggestions, in addition to any other relevant areas
of school life at the time: a boy or girl in school in 1916, what did they wear, what did they learn
about in the classroom/school setting, what did they bring for their lunch, length of school day,
number of students per class, what lighting and heating existed in the school, what school games
were played, what school books existed, how did they get to school etc.
Format: this will be a whole class project. It can be submitted for entry in any medium deemed
suitable by the teacher (photos, scrap book, pictures, interviews, song, video, poster etc.)
(b) Family Life in 1916: First & Second Classes
This theme can include any of the following suggestions in addition to any other relevant areas of
family life at the time: employment/jobs, food, and transport.
Format: this will be a whole class project. It can be submitted for entry in any medium deemed
suitable by the teacher (photos, scrap book, pictures, interviews, song, video, poster etc.)
(c) Community and Cultural Life : Third & Fourth Classes
This theme can include any of the following suggestions, in addition to any other relevant areas
of community or cultural life at the time: entertainment, theatre, cinema, song, visiting families,
seanachaí, dancing at cross roads, etc.
Format: this will be a group project (no more than 5 people per group). It can be submitted for
entry in any medium deemed suitable by the teacher (photos, scrap book, pictures, interviews,
song, video, poster etc.)
(d) Local Historical Event, Circa 1916: Fifth & Sixth Classes
This theme should be based on the following suggestion, in addition to any other relevant areas
of local historical interest at the time: description of local historical event which occurred around
1916, linking the local event to the national picture, where possible, noting any sense of Irish
identity that was emerging locally at the time.
Recommended resources: Songs, Witness Statements (www.bureauofmilitarythistory.ie), local
newspapers, museums, county council minutes from meetings
Format: this will be a group or individual project (no more than 5 people per group). It can be
submitted for entry in any medium deemed suitable by the teacher: essay, pictures, interviews,
song, video, poster, etc.)
Each school is asked to select one entry from each category to submit to the Education Centre.
An overall winner will be selected locally from each category and the prize will be a specially
commissioned trophy for the winning schools.
Important dates:
Friday 27th November
Project entries to be submitted to Laois
Education Centre
December 2015
Process of selecting winners
January 2016
Local Awards Day for overall winners
12th February 2016
Return of material to schools for use during
Proclamation Day, March 15th.
Each entry must have an official identity label.
I would appreciate if you would pass on this information to the teachers in your school. If you have
any questions re the process please do not hesitate to contact us in the Centre.
Yours sincerely
______________
Jim Enright
Director