Letters

Schools and faith formation

Change and political will

Wed Jan 04 2023 - 00:08

Sir, – The aviation sector is working towards achieving net zero carbon by 2050, and given the complexities with developing new technology aircraft and increasing the supply of sustainable aviation fuel, this timeline seems reasonable.

When comparing this with the programme for government’s commitment to delivering 400 multi-denominational primary schools by 2030 (“Concern over Catholic schools’ ability to keep ethos after ‘baptism barrier’ removal”, News, January 3rd), it is difficult to comprehend why it should take so long to achieve this. There’s no new technology to be invented or fuel synthesis methods to be created, simply the political will to act more quickly.

Nearly a year ago, your paper ran a similar story (“Progress on multi-denominational schools too ‘slow’”, News, January 10th, 2022), and it feels like this will be repeated for the rest of the decade without some immediate action on the part of the Government.

It should also be noted that the Government’s goal of 400 multi-denominational schools is limited to primary schools, causing further concern for parents whose children are already in primary education and will be selecting secondary schools over the coming years. – Yours, etc,

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SIMON DELANEY,

Bray,

Co Wicklow.

Sir, –The Catholic bishops regard over 90 per cent of the primary schools in the country to be “Catholic schools” (News, January 3rd). As long as these schools are funded by taxpayers money, such an attitude is incompatible with equity, and with the Constitution. The church had always claimed that there is room in “their” schools for children from all faiths and none. Yet, in September 2016, the Catholic Primary Schools Management Association chose to issue a document to its members, entitled “Ethos in Action”. This advises, among other things, the following:

“Create a school prayer space in a common area/ lobby space of the school. This should be seen by all visitors to your school who can clearly see the lived ethos of your school. Create a rota of classes/teachers and pupils to take responsibility for the school prayer space each month: This gives pupils and staff ownership of the space and ensures it changes regularly in line with the liturgical year. This school prayer space should reflect the work done by teachers in their class prayer spaces. Using prayer each day and at the beginning of all school meetings reminds of our mission as Catholic schools. This is a real and practical way of living out Ethos with the entire school community.”

There are many similar guides provided by the CPSMA.

These give the lie to the oft-repeated claim that children can be opted out of faith formation, and as long as such an attitude continues, there is no hope whatsoever that public, State-funded primary schools in Ireland can ever serve the needs of the whole population. – Yours, etc,

SEAMUS McKENNA,

Dublin 14.