Religious education in schools

Sir, – Aisling Judge writes in support of Rob Sadlier’s suggestion that religious instruction in schools should take place just before or just after normal school hours on an opt-in basis (Letters, November 8th).

This approximates to the system that was advocated in the Stanley Letter of 1831 and was implemented by the Board of National Education and retained in the Rules and Regulations for National Schools as published by the Department of Education.

Rule 65 Subsection 17 stated: “It is recommended that Religious Instruction shall take place either immediately before the commencement or immediately after the close of the ordinary school business; when, however the patron or manager thinks it fit to have Religious Instruction at an intermediate time a separate apartment shall (where practicable) be made available for the reception of those children who, according to these rules, should not be present thereat.”

In the mid-1960s, the Rules for National Schools were greatly amended without much public discussion and shortly afterwards a new curriculum for primary schools with an emphasis on the integration of religious instruction into the curriculum was adopted. – Yours, etc,