Culture: Compulsory 'Leaving Cert' Irish - Yes or No?
As I contemplate the on-going debate of making the Irish language a non-compulsory subject for the Leaving Certificate, like most people, I can't help recall my school days and especially the run up to exam time.
Though I went on to do some whoppers afterwards, unsurprisingly, they say the Leaving Cert is the biggest and most stressful exam of your life and if memory serves, it was quite gruesome. 
At secondary level, I enjoyed and achieved high grades in other languages like French and German, yet was pretty average at 'Irish' and it's only now, years later, I have found myself examining why. The reason is simply that I just did not care enough about the subject (though consciously I wanted to enjoy it as our national language), which leads me to think about why that was and how it was taught in the classroom.
Endless grammar recitals, spelling tests and essays supposedly to be learnt by heart - all to gain maximum benefit from the points system. Apart from a heady test of memory, it was taught in a kind of dictatorial style which personally put me off. Where was Irish conversation? i.e. the spoken word, just like the fun you had talking to your 'partner' in French and German class. Hell, to spite ourselves we even learnt about the French/German people and culture - quite extraordinary that we can't find the time to learn about our own!
Since the formation of the State, Irish has been part of the core curriculum, along with English and Maths in primary and post-primary education. I feel that although we have a national and European responsibility towards one of Europe's elder languages (Irish was the first written vernacular in North Western Europe), we also must realise that we can't force our Leaving Cert students to study and sit exams in it considering the manner in which it is taught. 
For example, Irish is taught 'through English' in a third of primary classrooms. I believe children, have a cultural right to be taught their first official language if they wish, but if some students decide another subject is more beneficial for them at Leaving cert level, surely having the option to drop Gaelige should be provided. Of course the sad consequence of this means teachers may lose jobs. I really think if we want our kids to appreciate the 'Irish' language, they must first learn about what it means to be Irish. Music, dancing and folklore are also part of our rich and varied culture so why not learn about this too? Why not put more emphasis on the spoken word? I mean, most damningly, many pupils leave school after 14 years and 1,500 hours of Irish language teaching unable to carry out a simple conversation in their native tongue!! (Tá mé go dona)
Surely if they are given a choice at Leaving Cert level to take on Gaelige and they choose to do so, it will then be for the right reasons and not because they feel obligated. Let's be honest - 'obligation' is forced, negative and always ends badly! Is this the association with our precious language we want the next generations to have? It hasn't done us any favours so far..