Looks like Carrigaline might be getting an Educate Together school. As far as I know these schools are non-denominational schools. The more the merrier. Claire Wilson is also invovled with one in Greytones. Pre-enrollment is this Saturday from 2-5pm.
Damien Mulley
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These schools are deadly Damien. It was great to see Claires involvement in the Greystones one. Our kids go to the one in Kilkenny and they have the chance to learn about a multiplicity of religions. Kids of different faiths take classes outside of the core hours and various holidays from around the world are noted and celebrated during the year.
keith
Here’s a simple idea, secular schools. None of this multi-denomination or schools of a particular religious persuasion nonsense. That’s so much simpler. If people want religious education they can do it on the weekends.
Ours goes to one as well, and it’s just brilliant. At least the parents have a hand in their child’s education this way. And at least they’re stepping up to give the kids an education, compared to the state or the church here.
Dave,
Educate Together actually provide for those of no religion as well as for those with a faith basis. It’s only enrollment criteria is first come, first served.
Another option is to go ahead and create your own company/charity to act as a patron and establish a series of schools which promote the secular school ethos (like educate together did).
Also the constitution explicitly allows for home (e.g. secular if you so wish) education. (in fact the primary responsibility for education rests not with the state but with the family).
So all in all there are options out for those that are looking for secular education.
Many Educate Together schools describe themselves as multi-denominational. All primary schools in the state are required to provide 30 min per day on “religious education”, which in the case of many of the Educate Together schools in now the ethical curriculum that the organisation has developed at a national level. One of their big bug bears at the moments in the need to get teachers and student teachers trained in providing that subject. All* of the primary education colleges are affilliated to religious institutions — the Roman Catholic Church in the case of St Patrick’s College Drumcondra, Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and most of the smaller colleges (e.g. Freobel), and Church of Ireland in the case the Church of Ireland College of Education in Rathmines and train teachers on delivering their faith’s religious education programme in the schools.
Ralph’s suggestion of setting up a body to act as a patron for primary schools is theoretically possible, but would face many challenges in practice if the school is to be a recognised one. The Department of Education and Science (aside: what “science” does it it actually administer?) makes the process of establishing a new school outside the existing framework difficult.
Check out hibernia…..there’s one way to become a qualified primary school teacher in Ireland apart from the religious colleges (which is what my wife did). Having said that Hibernia run an optional religious education training module that allows you to teach religious education (catholic) in primary schools. Another option apart from religious run courses is to train in England.
My suggestion to establish your own patron group was more tongue-in-cheek…it’s not a very practical option, but has been done (i.e. educate together, Gael Scoils).
It is dissapointing that there is no model for the state to open a school, they are dependent on a patron to run them. I believe there are plans for a community school type model for primary schools, but no example yet.
Ralph, sorry I didn’t mean to sound as if I was knocking Educate Together schools, I think they are great and absolutely a positive step forward. My comments should be regarded more as a reaction towards what I see as the State’s complete and utter abdication of providing a secular publically funded school system.
When I have children they will hopefully attend an Educate Together school but ideally the only exposure they’d get to particular religions would be in history class!
Hi Dave,
I guess my point is that there are options. What it requires is people to organise and get involved. Educate together is a good example of what can be achieved.
So if there are enough people and demand for a completely secular school(s) with no religious/ethical element then it’s possible to establish such a school that is state funded (to some extent…there’s a whole other discussion as to how the state fails to fund schools).
However I’d recommend looking into educate together as the ethical/religious element is presented in a very non threatening/indoctination type of way that favours no particular religion or even non-religion. Yes it’s mutli-denominational but also equally for those with no denomination/religion. Of course it may not suit if you seek an isolationist school populated only by the kids of secular parents… 😉
A new educate together has school has started up in my town and my daughters name is down to start next year as I like the multi-denominational aspect and we do not subscribe to any faith. I looked at some of the photographs on their site and was struck at how many of the children are obviously not Irish – now I am not suggesting that is a problem for me, but I want my daughter to mix will all cultures and creeds AS WELL AS her own. I don’t see the school at the moment as being balanced as it has in the majority non national children. If the school was a couple of years down the road (it only started up last year) then perhaps there would be a larger mix of Irish children but she will be going in next year when I expect the class will be similar.
I do not wish to come accross in any shape or form racist here it is just my concern that my daughter may feel isolated? We are contemplating sending her to the local catholic school instead, even if we HAVE to get her baptised for this. I am dreading though having to go through the whole communian fiasco and all that entails.
Hi Dara,
In Carrigaline, the new Educate Together National School opened in September 2008, just in time for my daughter to start school. She is from Germany and Ireland and fluently bilingual since the age of two.
Her continuously growing class has more than half the students fluently bilingual, others are picking up the English language as a second language. Some have picked up more Irish than English. The many languages in class have always been used in favor of all children, and I don’t think anyone is left alone in there.
There are several Irish kids in class with connections to Irish and other residents, and the atmosphere among parents favours a “borderless” mix with everyone.
We also have a very strong parent involvement and wish for every voice to count. If there should be any troubles, any suggestions to relieve them, you will have many ways of bringing them in.
Transparency is one of our Board’s main strategy and contact is close with our vibrant PA. As the school is only young, you will have the best opportunities to get involved and put your ideas forward to create the best school environment you wish to have for your child.
I hope, this will calm your concerns.
Regards,
Sue