Madam, – Cardinal Seán Brady (Front page, January 29th) decries the discussion of the “removal of faith” from schools as a “Trojan horse” which would leave us destined “to remain locked in tensions”. The sense of entitlement which the Catholic Church displays regarding education in Ireland is continually exasperating for those of us who wish to live in a modern, liberal state.
First, he asserts that the removal of church control of schools would leave the government of the day to define its morals and ethos. This is both deliberately simplistic and naive. In almost all other Western European countries, there is separation of church and state, and the schools are run according to the principles of that state, not of the government of the day.
To follow Cardinal Brady’s argument is to suggest Catholic principles are better suited for primary schools than those upon which we base ourselves as a nation.
Second, despite his pleas for pluralism, he states, “our future lies in ensuring that our schools become more authentically Catholic, both in terms of the authentic Catholic doctrine they teach and the Christian environment”. If we are to run our schools according to authentic Catholic doctrine, rather than the principles of the State, are we to teach our children that divorce is wrong and that homosexuality is a sin, despite the legality of both?
Discussion of removing religious doctrine from primary schools does not cause tension; it identifies a fundamental contradiction in Irish society – the gap between what we believe as a nation, and what children are taught to believe in 90 per cent of Irish primary schools. For too long the Catholic Church has stifled debate about its role in Irish society. I would sincerely hope that we are finally mature enough, as a nation, to have that debate. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I have read with interest the debate regarding whether schools under either Protestant or Catholic authority should continue to be allowed to have such influence. And I wonder why the churches are so keen to maintain this influence.
Having gone to the Methodist-run school, Wesley College, in Dublin, I heard plenty about our “ethos” and developing the spirituality of the students. But I wonder in the long term does it achieve much? In my age group, say 25- to 40-year-olds, several thousand have been through my alma mater. However, while I admit this is not scientifically based, there seems to me little evidence of large numbers of this age group in our churches. Indeed, many I talk to who have been through a church-run school have little or no interest in church life and faith. Certainly, they are people of integrity and honesty and goodness, but that could be achieved through a State-run school.
What we are finding in the Methodist Church is that specific youth-oriented programmes whether they are Saturday night youth clubs, weekends away or summer camps, are far more effective in encouraging young people to explore their faith and become involved in church life and witness. Amid all the laughter and craic that the kids have at these events, many are discovering a living Christian faith, a faith which really can’t be shown to them as they sit in rows in a classroom for a religious education period in between maths and geography.
My call is for the church to not be afraid to step away from the education system and instead explore new and creative ways of presenting the Gospel and inviting the young people to join of their own volition. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – In 1831, Lord Stanley, Chief Secretary for Ireland, sent a letter to the Duke of Leinster outlining his proposals for a system of national school education in Ireland. What he proposed was a multi-denominational system under denominational management. These proposals resulted in the establishment of a Board of National Education.
Church reaction to the proposals was mixed. Initially the Ulster Presbyterians objected to the system, to be followed by the other churches, leading to nearly a century of conflict and turf wars and compromise solutions until the original concept was lost. A calm reading of the original documents will show that the proposals were very far-sighted.
Is it not now time that the original proposals by Lord Stanley be revisited to see how they could be adapted to resolve the current impasse in the debate on the management structures of our primary schools? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Christian maxim give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s, is apt. Religious ethos is a matter for the individual, the family and the church and has no place in the school.
Let the church take care of its ethos and let the State get on with educating our children. – Yours, etc,