A chara, – The disappointment of the chairman of the Forum on Patronage, Prof John Coolahan, regarding the divestment of schools is, I suggest, a bit late! ("Efforts to divest schools 'disappointing', says forum chairman", November 10th).
The patronage system in Irish education is outdated and outmoded. The forum should have recommended that the state act as sole “patron” to all schools. Replacing patrons is only perpetuating vested interest groups in the system that often divert attention from the core work of schools.
Prof Coolahan’s statement that the forum tried “to encourage a generous spirit “among existing patrons” is a bit like asking turkeys to vote for Christmas. What we need is political leadership and decisive action by the State. If, as Prof Coolahan states, we are heading for “great trouble”, why not anticipate this and, unlike what happened with the banks, let us nationalise our schools before it is too late.
This debate should not be about Catholic schools, it should be about the concept of patronage and the reality that we have 14 different school patrons in this small State. The fact that many patrons are vying for position in schools is worrying and the generosity of spirit that Prof Coolahan refers to is less likely to emerge if the State continues to abrogate its responsibility to manage the education of its citizens. – Yours, etc,
SEÁN Ó DÍOMASAIGH,
Dunsany,
Co Meath.
Sir, – The Department of Education at the time of the 43 patronage surveys insisted to existing patrons and local politicians that there were to be no public meetings on the question of possible reorganisations.
Eighteen months ago here in Beaufort we held a very helpful and very respectful parish meeting where divestment of one of our parish schools was the topic of discussion. Why then, one wonders, is the Forum on Patronage and Department of Education officials so afraid of local parental debate, as happens in other democracies? – Yours, etc,
ALAN WHELAN,
Killarney,
Co Kerry.
Sir, – Section 7 of the Equal Status Act 2000 allows 96 per cent of taxpayer-funded primary schools in Ireland to discriminate against children in enrolment on the basis of religion. Supporters of this law point out that schools only do so when oversubscribed – so at the moment “only” around 600 schools are guaranteed to turn away an unbaptised child.
There are two problems with this. First, parents can never know from year to year which schools will be oversubscribed so the safest thing to do is play it safe and baptise your child. (This might explain the recent Ipsos poll which found that 95 per cent of parents under 35 years of age baptise their children while only 14 per cent take them to Mass regularly). Second, it is frankly bizarre that a 21st-century democracy has a law the only purpose of which is to segregate four-year-old children within the education system on the basis of religion. Doesn’t the State have better things to do than act as a religious recruiting agent?
Despite the fact that this could not more clearly contradict the Constitution – Article 44.2.3 states that “The State shall not impose any disabilities or make any discrimination on the ground of religious profession, belief or status” – Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan until very recently defended such discrimination on the basis that it is required by the Constitution.
The Minister now appears to think, correctly, that this argument is nonsense ("Schools should accept pupils on proximity", November 9th). At last the Minister accepts that "primary schools should be obliged to accept pupils based on proximity rather than their religious denomination in cases where schools are oversubscribed".
Now the question is what she intends to do about it. The answer, it would seem, is nothing – apparently it is a job for the next government. Why would a sitting Minister take such a view?
Surely now that she has finally accepted that this State-endorsed discrimination is wrong she is obliged to end it, once and for all. The Dáil is soon to debate the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill, yet the Minister for Education cannot think of a way in which to tackle the issue of religious discrimination in school admissions.
If I may be so bold, may I put a suggestion to the Minister? Include in the Admission to Schools Bill a provision whereby taxpayer-funded schools can no longer discriminate in admissions on the basis of religion. – Yours, etc,
PADDY MONAHAN,
Raheny,
Dublin 5.