Sir, – The anonymous writer of the “To Be Honest” column (“It’s time to discriminate in favour of non-Catholics”, Education, March 11th) makes a heartfelt and understandable plea for Educate Together to change its enrolment policies to discriminate in favour of non-religious families. The situation that the writer has found himself (herself?) in is one well known to Educate Together schools throughout the country. He has put his child’s name down to attend the school of his choice in what should be good time but has found himself too far down the list to gain entry. As the writer says about his child, “He deserves a place in an Educate Together school”.
The suggested solution, however, is not one that we can consider. To introduce a form of discrimination in our enrolment policies would be to go against everything that Educate Together stands for. Our schools are not only for the children of non-religious parents, they are for all children. The solution to this issue is not for our schools to start to discriminate, the solution is for the State to provide enough Educate Together schools to meet the ever-growing demand from Irish parents. – Yours, etc,
DIARMAID
Mac AONGHUSA,
Chairman,
Educate Together,
Hogan Place, Dublin 2.
Sir, – The “To Be Honest” writer and Eimear Lynch (March 13) highlight, once again, the absurdity that is the archaic system we in Ireland continue to foist on our children in the name of education.
National school teacher salaries are paid by the State, school buildings are provided by the State and the school inspectorate is under the auspices of the State, as is curriculum development and all other related matters.
The European Court of Human Rights has determined that teachers here are ultimately the responsibility of the State. A solution to the problems of discrimination is thus plain to be seen – we should abolish the patronage system altogether and bring all national schools under the direct management of the Department of Education. A fair and balanced system for school place allocation would follow as a matter of course.
There are other benefits to be gained. For one, the so-called “voluntary” contribution that is demanded of many parents in order for them to secure the right of their children to have a primary education would no longer be an issue.
Of course, whatever shortfall that currently gives rise to this would have to be paid, instead, from the exchequer.
It is not too much to claim, however, that any country that cannot properly fund the education of its young does not deserve to consider itself among the developed nations of the world. – Yours, etc,
SEAMUS McKENNA,
Farrenboley Park,
Windy Arbour,
Dublin 14.