Recently, a number of parents from the Diabetes Online Community shared some of their agitation and distress from their children with type 1 diabetes at the recent home school broadcast for our primary school children. As the content of the broadcasts is being created by teachers I emailed the broadcaster to find out exactly where the source for their content came from. Put it down to my curious nature and the fact that, very often, this is not the first time it has been reported that a child came home from school upset at what the teacher has taught the class about diabetes.

The broadcaster was very quick with their response and hugely helpful.

Where did the Information Come From

While our national broadcaster broadcast this information, the content is being prepared and presented by teachers, so my first question was “where are they getting this information from?”

The content for this programme came from the “Walk Tall” classroom materials, which is part of the Social Personal and Health Education Curriculum (SPHE), Unit 2, Section B, Lesson 3 “Different Food for Different People”, Page 114 - 118. And yes, I’m rolling my eyes at why diabetes is included in this lesson, not to mention the huge focus on diabetes rather than common conditions where there are restrictions in food such as food allergies and intolerances or coeliac disease, which it only mentions very briefly mentioned. What’s up with that!?!

Anyway back to the source of the content. The curriculum for Ireland's primary and post-primary schools is determined by the Minister for Education and Skills who is advised by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The NCCA liaises with teachers to review the content which was last reviewed in 2009/2010.

“Walk Tall” classroom materials from the Primary School’Social Personal and Health Education Curriculum (SPHE),

Now we know where this particular misinformation comes from how can we get it changed and what do we want it changed to?

Should It Be Removed Or A Golden Opportunity?

My first instinct was that the diabetes information should be updated, however, given that the title of the segment is “Different Food for Different People”, and the purpose of the Wall Tall programme, I question diabetes being included at all. Now I’ve put myself between a rock and a hard place because this is an absolute golden and desperately needed opportunity to raise awareness about diabetes.

I think we can all agree that not including more about health conditions who do have to avoid certain foods such as Coeliac disease and food allergies is a gross oversight by the teachers and educations specialists who created this lesson, as is not consulting with organisations such as Anaphylaxis Ireland, Diabetes Ireland and the Coeliac society of ireland.

In the “Thoughtshower” section where it says “If diabetes is not mentioned add it to the list.” that it would be important for the teacher to point out that Diabetes is not one of those conditions, however, people with diabetes do have to be aware of what they are eating, as should everyone. And incorporate an earlier lesson on Unit 2 lesson B: Food and Nutrition; Knowing about my body”.

How do we go about addressing this issue?

I think the first step here is to submit suggestions of changes to be made to the lesson plan to the Department of Education and the NCCA, highlighting the reasons why the amendments are necessary (i.e.the incorrect information). The materials were last reviewed in 2009/2010 so this feedback should be in time for the review. I know we have some teachers in the diabetes community who may be in a position to contact the NCCA and this is also something that Diabetes Ireland can address also.

Hopefully this will be done by the time for the review of these materials.

Next up: Secondary School Curriculum search for diabetes.

This might be a bit more of a challenge as there are so many more subjects in Secondary Level education but I would probably start with the curriculum materials for science, home economics, biology.