The document discusses the history and experiences of Irish Americans. It notes that while Irish Americans now have higher incomes and education levels than average, Irish immigrants faced much discrimination and poverty when initially arriving in the 1800s due to the potato famine. It warns against stereotyping Irish Americans and encourages learning about their culture and history of overcoming obstacles to achieve success.

1. Teachback
John Brewer Jr.

2.  Irish Americans in the United States today are
at an advantage compared to the general
population. They have a higher per capita
household income than average. They have a
better chance of graduating high school and
obtaining a bachelors degree. Massachusetts
has the highest percentage of Irish American
population twice the national average

3.  Irish Americans were not always in the
position that they are in today. When their
immigration first started to the United States
in mass in the 1840’s as a result of the
potato famine in Ireland they were looked
upon as inferior and ignorant. They were
often employed as servants and had little to
no chance of prosperity. They were looked
down upon because of their Catholic religion
by those of the Protestant faith.

4.  Red haired
 Alcoholic
 Quick tempered
 Ignorant
 Catholic
 Potato farmers

5.  Any hair color
 May or may not have an alcohol problem
 May or may not have a quick temper
 Full range of the intelligence scale
 Any religion
 Many different occupations

6.  Children were often unschooled and forced to
work in factories prior to educational reforms
 Currently have an advantage in the educational
system
 92% have a high school diploma
 32% have a bachelors degree or higher
 40% in employed in management positions

7.  Once the Irish population in our country were
considered below the level of slaves on the
social and intellectual level. Now they have all
the rights and opportunities that they did not
have and have excelled with a higher per
capita income and graduation rate than the
majority of the United States population.
There are currently 36.9 million Irish
Americans compared to 4.5 million actual
Irish whom live in Ireland.

8.  Pay attention to the cultural experience of
students
 Be cognizant of the differences in
demographics
 Recognize differences as valuable
 Do not change your expectations
 Educate yourself about Irish American culture
and history
 Don’t give in to stereotypes

9.  To sum it up you should expect the same of
all of your students. It is important to
recognize differences when you come across
them. You need to take these differences in
nationality and educate yourself about what
they mean. Irish are not a culture of Ignorant
Catholic drunks. Rather they are a culture
that has risen from the bottom levels of
society to a place where they are successful
and looked up to in many areas.

10.  Bill Clinton
 Barack Obama
 Bruce Springsteen
 Bing Crosby
 Derek Jeter
 Frank McCourt
 Grace Kelly
 John Kennedy
 Britney Spears

11.  http://www.irishcentral.com/news/The-Irish-
Americans----who-we-are-in-2011-
115267649.html
 http://xroads.virginia.edu/~UG03/omara-
alwala/IrishKennedys.html
 http://www.irishamericanjourney.com/2011/
10/famous-irish-americans.html