School patronage and religion

Sir, – Ciarán Flynn, general secretary, Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (May 30th), states that I gave an “unbalanced” view of community and comprehensive schools (Rite & Reason, April 30th) . The only fact on which he corrects me is that Roman Catholic chaplains in VEC community colleges are paid by the State. This confirms my argument that parents who do not wish their children to be exposed to religion in taxpayer-funded schools do not have an option of a truly secular education available to them. The payment of such chaplains, who must be committed Roman Catholics in order to be appointed, indicates the denominational nature of the schools

Mr Flynn states that I do not give evidence that parents’ representatives on boards of management have little influence on decisions. As there are only two parents’ representatives on a board of 11 members, how can parents exercise influence on key decisions? I was a parents’ representative on a community school board of management for four years and on all important issues that came before the board, the wishes of the trustees prevailed.

Mr Flynn claims I was “dismissive” of former members of religious orders who were appointed as principals or teachers in schools where those religious orders were trustees. I did not comment of the competence of those principals or teachers but suggested the religious trustees consolidated their influence in the schools through such appointments.

Mr Flynn mentions the “respectful” multidenominational nature of religious education in community and comprehensive schools and states that non-believing pupils may opt out of religion classes. If such pupils cannot be supervised, opting out is not practicable and even when it is, pupils who opt out may feel uncomfortable.

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Mr Flynn states that his association is reviewing the deed of trust governing the community schools. It is to be hoped that the taxpayers who wholly fund these schools will have some say in the formulation of the new deed and that the negotiations will not be conducted in secret as the original negotiations were. At present the religious trustees of many community schools have full legal control of the schools .

If Mr Flynn considers that Catholic religious orders are not the dominant force in the schools which he represents, he should look at the list of past presidents of the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools. Of the 12 past presidents, five have been members of religious orders and a sixth is a former member of a religious order. – Yours, etc,

SEAN BYRNE,

Sutton Park, Dublin 13.