Racism in Primary Schools Survey
Step
1
of
5
20%
Section 1 - About You
Thank you for completing this survey. It is in 5 sections. All questions are optional to answer. Although there are quite a lot of questions, it shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to complete.
I work in...
a Primary School
a Secondary School
neither of the above
Choose one
I am a...
Teacher
SNA
Other
Choose one
I work in a...
Denominational School
Interdenominational School
Multidenominational / Equality-Based School
Denominational school is where there is one religious programme taught during the day. Interdenominational is where both Catholic and Christian programmes are taught. Mutlidenominational or Equality-based are schools where no particular religious programme is taught as truth, e.g. CNS, Educate Together, some Gaelscoileanna
Teaching Council Recognition
Full Recognition
Restricted Recognition
I have been unable to register
Choose one
Describe your ethnicity
Examples include White Irish, Irish Traveller, Black African, Irish-Asian, Mixed Background, etc.
Religious Background
Roman Catholic
Church of Ireland
Other Christian Denomination (incl Orthodox)
Muslim
Jewish
Other Religious Faith
Atheist, Agnostic or Humanist (or other non-faith system)
Choose one.
Current Religion / Belief System
Roman Catholic
Church of Ireland
Other Christian Denomination (incl Orthodox)
Muslim
Jewish
Other Religious Faith
Atheist, Agnostic or Humanist (or other non-faith system)
How you identify now
Did you complete your schooling in Ireland?
Both Primary and Secondary
Secondary only
No - all education outside of Ireland
Choose one.
Can you speak Irish?
Yes, fluently
Yes, but not fluently
A few words
No
Choose one.
Section 2 - Racism
How would you define racism?
Give an example of racism in a school context
Have you ever been a victim of racism in your school?
Yes
No
We want to pass on stories, anonymously, to help shape our proposal for an anti-racism course. Stories can be powerful tools for change.
Tell your story
Do you think the primary school system is racist?
Yes
No
I don't know
Why?
How many staff are there in your school? (All staff, including teachers, SNAs, ancillary, etc.)
Please enter a number from
0
to
100
.
How many of your whole staff are minoritised people?
Please enter a number from
0
to
100
.
A minoritsed person would include people of colour, members of Traveller or Roma Community, mixed background, etc.
How many of your teaching staff are minoritised people?
Please enter a number from
0
to
100
.
Section 3 - My Experience and Feelings
The following questions are mainly True or False questions which explore your own beliefs about our education system.
I have never worked in a school with a teacher from a minority background in Ireland
True
False
I believe there should be more diversity in the teaching profession
True
False
I believe multiculturalism is very new in Ireland and in the next generation, the lack of diversity will naturally change.
True
False
I believe schools should not have religious patronage
True
False
People have asked me where am I really from
True
False
I believe my surname puts me at a disadvantage for working in a school in Ireland
True
False
I lied in an interview about my ethnicity
True
False
My principal knows I don't share the ethos of the school in my personal life
True
False
I think things are getting too PC and I feel I have to watch everything I say for fear of offending someone
True
False
I feel in danger due to my ethnicity in my school
True
False
I honestly don't think there is a problem with racism in staff rooms
True
False
I have made a racist joke in my staff room
True
False
I have intervened when I have heard a staff member make a racial slur
True
False
Not applicable
A racial slur could mean a innappropriate joke or comment about an ethnic minority, mimicking an accent, etc.
I can say without doubt that my school is inclusive to all ethnicities
True
False
I think schools have a role in tackling racism
True
False
A parent has asked me to move their child from sitting next to a child from an ethnic minority background
True
False
Please check any of the following that you have heard a member of staff in your school negatively stereotype
A Person of Colour
A Person from a Minority Faith Group
A Single Parent
A Member of Traveller Community
An LGBT+ person
Can you describe what happened?
Do you think there is anything discouraging ethnic minorities from joining the teaching profession? If so, what?
Section 4 - The lack of diversity in staffrooms
According to research from NUIG (2019) the Irish Language and Religious Control of schools are often purported to be the biggest barriers to diversity in primary schools. What do you think?
On a scale of 0 to 5, in your opinion, how big a barrier is the Irish language to diversity in the teaching profession?
Please enter a number from
0
to
5
.
0 would represent that it is not a barrier at all. 5 would represent that it is an unpenetrable barrier.
On a scale of 0 to 5, in your opinion, how big a barrier is religion to diversity in the teaching profession?
Please enter a number from
0
to
5
.
Please give a reason for your answers
Please add your own experience if it is applicable
Have you any practical suggestions to remove the barrier that Gaeilge puts on diversity?
Have you any practical suggestions to remove the barrier that religion puts on diversity in the teaching profession?
Roughly, what percentage of children's books in your classroom have a minoritised person as the protagonist?
Section 5 - The need for anti-racism training
Have you received any training as to how to prevent racism in schools?
Yes
No
What was this training?
Would you feel confident dealing with an incident of racism in your classroom?
Yes
No
Do you think we need anti-racism training for schools?
Yes
No
Should this training tackle:
child to child racism
adult to child racism
adult to adult racism
child to adult racism
institutional racism
policies
curriculum
Select All
Give up to 3 outcomes you would like to see in an anti-racism course
Please list these in bullet point form if you can.
What do you think schools can do to combat racism in school/society?