Sectarian divisions begin as young as three, new research into attitudes among young children in Northern Ireland suggests.
By the age of six, 90 per cent of Protestant and Catholic children are aware of the political or cultural meaning of at least one event or symbol such as a flag, parade or violent incident.
The report, Too Young to Notice? The Cultural and Political Awareness of Three- to Six-Year-Olds in Northern Ireland, was published last week by the Community Relations Council to coincide with the 'marching season' in the Province that culminates on 12 July. The research drew its inspiration from a study done with young Israeli and Palestinian children in 1999.
Researchers found that from the age of three, Catholic and Protestant children showed 'small but significant' differences in their preferences for people's names or flags and in their attitudes to the police and Orange marches. By the age of six, two-thirds (66 per cent) of Catholic children said they preferred the green and white hooped Celtic football shirt, while more than three-quarters (77 per cent) of Protestant children preferred the blue Rangers shirt.
The research also found that by the age of three, Catholic children were twice as likely to say they didn't like the police.
A representative sample of 352 children aged three to six from across Northern Ireland was surveyed for the report. They were shown a range of objects and photographs related to the Province, including the Union flag and Irish tricolour, Celtic and Rangers football shirts, different combinations of colours and pictures of an Orange march, an Irish dancer, a handgun and a police Land Rover, then asked what they knew about each one.
Asked 'What do you know about Protestants/Catholics?', a four-year-old Protestant girl said, 'Catholics are the same as masked men, they smash windows', while a six-year-old Catholic boy said, 'Catholics don't like Protestants and that's why they don't like them - they're bad.' When asked for clarification for using the term 'baddies' or 'bad people', a five-year-old Protestant boy said, 'They're IRA and Fenians (Catholics) - they rob and sometimes they shoot people. They have masks on.'
The report noted the influence of segregated schooling. Co-author Dr Paul Connolly of the University of Ulster said, 'The most significant finding is the rapid rate of increase in the proportions of children beginning to identify themselves with one particular community and also to make sectarian comments at the ages of five and six. The fact that these represent the first few years of compulsory schooling is unlikely to be a coincidence. 'It raises important questions about the indirect effects our segregated school system is having on the development of young children's attitudes and awareness.'
The report recommended that from the age of three, children 'should be encouraged to explore and experience a range of different cultural practices, events and symbols, and to appreciate and respect difference and cultural diversity'. From five onwards, children should be 'encouraged to understand the negative aspects of sectarian stereotypes and prejudices, and to be able to identify them in their own attitudes, where appropriate'.
The report is available for 5 from the Community Relations Information Centre, 21 College Square East, Belfast BT1 6DE (028 9022 7555).
