Is denominational education suitable for 21st century Ireland?

 
John Carr argues that the State can not support a range of denominational schools in every area, and must shift to a system of community national schools.



Modern Ireland is increasingly diverse. It is clear that attempts to date to provide for a limited amount of faith and linguistic diversity are inadequate and responsible for many children being educated in Dickensian school buildings. An imminent increase of 100,000 in the primary school population should cause us to question if it is possible, never mind desirable, to have in every town and village different schools reflecting the individual wishes of every subset of parents.

In most parts of Ireland, parents send their children to the local primary school which is usually a denominational school. Current regulations do not permit children to receive religious instruction of which their parents disapprove and religion classes must be fixed to facilitate withdrawal of children. In reality, all children are obliged to be present during religious instruction because arrangements for withdrawal cannot be made. Even where such arrangements can be made, the period for religious teaching can scarcely be fixed if a religious spirit is to inform the whole work of the school.

Is this fair? The parent who does not share the ethos of the school may have fears about proselytisation. The teacher in the classroom is always open to the charge. In many cases, parents who actively seek a denominational education for their children may argue that it is being diluted by local arrangements to accommodate diversity including the increasing number of parents who are ambivalent about religious education, yet want their children in the local school.

In reality, many of our existing denominational schools are now de facto multi-denominational while being de jure denominational. Increasingly teachers find themselves providing religious instruction to a minority while being expected to provide alternative activities for the majority.

But for those issues, one of the great strengths of our system has been the fact that in general children can enrol in their local primary school. Indeed, I believe that not only do we owe a historical debt to the various churches but that denominational schools at present deserve much credit for their attempts to be inclusive and welcoming of diversity.

However that said, given the limited potential of denominational schools to fully accommodate Ireland's new diversity and the limitations of the exchequer to provide an unlimited choice it is time to consider how best to provide for a changing population.

I respect the right of a parent to choose a religious education for their child but I do not necessarily believe that henceforth, this should automatically extend to the provision of denominational schools.

Neither do I accept that it should extend to the provision of exclusively multi-denominational or non-denominational schools for that matter because these schools do not provide for parents seeking a denominational education for their children.

Therefore, and in that context, I believe that the concept of a community national school offers a good way forward. Such schools could accommodate the provision of separate or common religious education programmes or none during the school day in accordance with parental choice.

If such a model could be worked out so that it respects the wishes of parents then I believe that it would attract widespread support.

I disagree with the argument that religion should have no place in schools. Neither do I propose that all denominational schools should be forcibly changed into multi-faith schools. Such a position would simply be a reverse of the virtual monopoly situation that exists at present.

The comments by Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin that he had 90 per cent of all Dublin schools under his control to cater for about 50 per cent of the population who actively wanted Catholic education seems to open up the possibility of providing additional diversity. But it could suggest that in future, a smaller number of denominational schools might severely confine enrolment and see the end of the "local" school in many areas.

So I suggest that the way forward is not to continue to provide different schools, denominational or otherwise to every group of parents seeking some form of exclusivity. A better way is to develop community national schools which have the capacity to meet the needs of all under the same roof.

Community schools exist at second level and are at the heart of many communities providing quality education to all students. Why can these not be replicated at primary? What is so special about religious education in primary schools that separate schools are required when at post-primary, separate classes will suffice?

When originally established in 1831 it was intended that primary schools would provide secular education for all children in the same school with separate religious education.

It was certainly an idea before its time, but has its time now come?

John Carr is general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation

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