Greyhound Star has received a copy of the letter sent by DJ Histon, CEO of the Irish Coursing Club to the publishers of a highly controversial book currently being used in Irish schools.

The Making A Difference series of books is aimed at raising awareness among younger people on a wide variety of issues including topics like understanding slavery, human rights, racism etc.

One section of the book produces a highly negative view of greyhound racing with shrouded references to animal abuse and cruelty. The book has already been widely criticised by a cross party group of rural politicians who have been lobbying the education minister to intervene.

Here is Histon’s letter in full.

 

Ms Aoife Geraghty
Chief Operations Officer
Folens Publishers
Hibernian Industrial Estate
Greenhills Road
Tallaght
Dublin 24
D24 DH05

August 27 2021

Dear Ms Geraghty,
I am CEO of the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), the Keeper of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book (IGSB) and operator of one of four Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) approved dog microchip databases; Micro Dog ID.
I am writing to you regarding the Folens publication; Making a Difference, Chapter 5 “Going to the Dogs” workbook activity. I strongly object to the published content as set out in the activity book and in particular, the framing of the activity for both the student and the teacher. 
I contend that, to fully understand this topic, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive research and at least engage with the ICC, the body responsible for the registration and identification of thoroughbred greyhounds under the Greyhound Act 1958 and as operator of Micro Dog ID.               It would also be necessary to engage with Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ), the statutory body responsible for the development and promotion of the industry and the Irish Greyhound Owners & Breeders Federation (IGOBF), a national representative body for owners and breeders. 
It appears that the level of research undertaken by the CSPE educators and authors was primarily confined to the RTÉ Investigates: ‘Running for their Lives’ documentary. I was not contacted as part of any research initiative and I am unaware of any other industry body been contacted, be that RCÉ or the IGOBF.
In any event, please clarify the bodies contacted as part of Folens research and all other research endeavours undertaken, separate from the RTÉ Investigates documentary. 
As per the text of the activity, for completeness of information, it should be noted that greyhound racing is not only ‘legal in Ireland’ but the industry is regulated under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011, Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015, Animal Health & Welfare Act 2003, the Greyhound Industry Act 1958-2019, Greyhound Industry Racing Regulations 2007-2021 and the Rules of the ICC.
If the purpose of the activity is to encourage students to engage with the three strands under the CSPE curriculum: rights and responsibilities; global citizenship; exploring democracy, then I suggest it has fallen spectacularly short of the desired outcomes. 
In order for students and teachers to engage with this topic in an objective and democratic manner, then all the necessary information should be made available to them. How can a student or teacher engage or promote critical thinking/analysis if the overall information presented is biased and weighted negatively. There is no reference to the fact that all greyhounds must be microchipped since 2015 before registration can take place, or that the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 deals specifically with their welfare needs. There is no reference to the traceability of greyhounds’ scheme ensuring responsible ownership or how the welfare of competing greyhounds is regulated to ensure the necessary checks are in place to promote appropriate welfare. 
This evident bias is further amplified by instructions directing students to ‘write an email or letter to the Ministers for Agriculture and Sport suggesting some actions the Irish government can take to protect the Welfare of greyhounds in Ireland’. This direction has corralled the student’s response and has extinguished any scope to interrogate the topic in any meaningful or objective way to eventually arrive at their own conclusions. It stifles a student’s potential to arrive at their own informed conclusions. Preparing students to competently interrogate, assess, evaluate and reach a considered opinion on a topic should be the aims of the CSPE curriculum. Unfortunately, this exercise presents students with a biased and partisan view of the greyhound sector offering little opportunity for intellectual growth.
I would urge you to revisit this workbook exercise in the interest of fair-mindedness to the students and teachers that are part of the greyhound industry and those that are not part of the greyhound industry. 
I am not asking for a blinkered view of the industry to be portrayed but I do not want a biased view of the industry to be portrayed either. The book was published in May 2021 and therefore the missed opportunity by the experienced team of CSPE educators and authors to provide up to date information should now be remedied for the benefit of students and teachers before the commencement of this year’s curriculum.
I look forward to your response and receipt of the information requested on all research conducted in preparation for the published workbook activity.
Yours sincerely,

D.J. Histon,
CEO of ICC
Keeper of the IGSB