A children’s magazine has come under fire after publishing an article that listed reasons why minority languages weren’t needed.
Under a picture of children reading books in Welsh, The Week Junior listed “three reasons why we don’t need minority languages”.
Since November 2015 The Week has published a children's edition, The Week Junior, a current affairs magazine aimed at 8 to 14 year olds.
Its website claims
The Week Junior is a brilliant current affairs magazine for children aged between 8 and 14. It’s filled with fascinating stories and information, written to engage curious young minds and encourage them to explore and understand the world around them.
Among the reasons, the magazine said that there “was little use” for the languages, that the classroom should be used to teach “useful” languages instead, and that it was a “waste of money”.
By using Welsh as an example in the photograph it is clear that any argument against the use of minority languages includes Welsh.
The magazine did, however, say that minority languages “come with their own rich traditions in the form of poems and stories”.
But having the line “Learning a second language has proven benefits for developing minds,” is hardly an argument for "Minority" languages but reinforces the bigoted claim children in Wales should be learning French, German or some other majority language.
Has the Week Junior's Big Debate questioned other attempts to promote Women's Equality for example?
This was just one response.
Russell Elliott RetweetedBigWelshSteve @SteveYCymroMawr BigWelshSteve Retweeted Rhodri #isitok for British media to promote xenophobic prejudice arguing to suffocate Welsh culture as a fair position? To children this time!
I am not a conspiracy theorist but coming after the Newsnight scandal in which we were presented with a poorly researched and biased that asked whether the Welsh language was a "help or hindrance to the nation". I think we can ask if we are seeing a campaign against the Welsh Language from the London Media
There should always be debate on the status of Cymraeg , but it should nor start with “three reasons why we don’t need minority languages”. or "help or hindrance to the nation".
To paraphrase the Pride Event in Cardiff Yesterday.
"Some people in Wales speak Welsh and want to use it , Get over it".
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