Two Dublin schools to end Catholic-first policy

[cactus flower]

Cave in by Catholic Archdiocese to loud-mouth wingnuts in the media.
The Government provides 100% funding for teachers to all schools, RC, CofI, Muslim, etc. Are all denominational schools now supposed to open their doors to everyone or is it just Catholic schools that have to make up for the Government's inadequate provision of resources to schools?
Let other groups club together to make representations for resources. Why pick on catholic schools for doing something for their congregation?
Why don't humanists and atheists do something for the education of their kids because they are self-centred opinionated wasters who spend most of their time cynically complaining about everyone else while doing little themselves. If they really believed in a secular education system shouldn't they be out campaigning for it? Sending a snotty letter to the IT seems to be the height of their ability to organise anything.
While Irish missionaries were sacrificing their lives educating Africa where were the Irish atheists and humanists? Where are they now?

MarD whatever you do don't let reality stand in the way of your opinions. There are about 50 Educate Together schools operating set up by "self opinionated wasters" of various and no religions and a queue of many more waiting for funding and sites to start up. New Catholic schools are in the minority in the last 10 years or more. Why is teaching in Africa "sacrificing your life" ? Plenty of atheists and humanists are devoted teachers and development workers. Do you feel the need to know anything at all about what you are writing about?

[bob3344]

Am I mistaken in thinking that the Catholic church bailed out successive Irish governments by providing education which would not otherwise have been available ?

Now they are being held responsible for the fact that the state didn't bother thinking for 5 mins about the implications of mass immigration.

The way people bandy phrases like 'brainwashing' or 'indoctrination', you'd think they grew up in stalinist russia.

Maybe next week, we can focus on muslim schools - i'm sure muslim clerics would be only too delighted to take in non-muslims kids like the catholic church has done.

[cactus flower]

[quote=D.Harry]

Just who is waiting in the wings to take up the torch of education if it is dropped by the various Churches?

Eh, the state?

Exactly! It is not the role of any church to educate children. Education should be secular.

The State? Where? When? How? Do you see the state clamouring to be allowed build and run schools? No you don't.
The State has some idea of the enormous cost which would be involved if its citizens were not educated by mostly selfless people.
Anybody who wishes to give their children a secular education is free to do so, with state support, within sensible limits.
Welcome to the real world.[/quote:s0h56uei]

D Harry - real world calling - teachers in Ireland are some of the highest paid in europe and their wages are paid by the State. School buildings are also paid for by the State or by collections from parents.

[Aindriu]

[quote=D.Harry]

Just who is waiting in the wings to take up the torch of education if it is dropped by the various Churches?

Eh, the state?

Exactly! It is not the role of any church to educate children. Education should be secular.

The State? Where? When? How? Do you see the state clamouring to be allowed build and run schools? No you don't.
The State has some idea of the enormous cost which would be involved if its citizens were not educated by mostly selfless people.
Anybody who wishes to give their children a secular education is free to do so, with state support, within sensible limits.
Welcome to the real world.[/quote:1n7y82cc]

I live in the real world. You obviously don't. How is Ireland ever going to get rid of the image of it being dominated by the RCC when it is they who educate 99% of all children and eejits like you say I have to accept it?!?

[bob3344]

"New Catholic schools are in the minority in the last 10 years or more."

So what pray tell are you getting so excited about cactus ?

Your brave new world not arriving fast enough ?

[bob3344]

How is Ireland ever going to get rid of the image of it being dominated by the RCC ?

Image being the most important factor obviously.

[White Horse]

I live in the real world. You obviously don't. How is Ireland ever going to get rid of the image of it being dominated by the RCC when it is they who educate 99% of all children and eejits like you say I have to accept it?!?

Who is saying you have to accept it?

Is anyone arguing on this thread that the State should not build non-religious primary schools and offer the choice of non-religious education to the parents of children?

[cactus flower]

"New Catholic schools are in the minority in the last 10 years or more."

So what pray tell are you getting so excited about cactus ?

Your brave new world not arriving fast enough ?

Sorry bob, if you read the thread you will see that I was giving some much needed information to a previous poster. I dont have a clue what you are on about.

[Tmesis]

Waiting for you to make a definitive statement that you won't inflict any 'indoctrination' on your own children by allowing them 1st Communion, Confirmation, etc. You already chickened out on the Nativity Play.

If you don't "allow" your children to have a bar mitzvah are you indoctrinating them?

And, I have no problem with my children taking part in a play about the Nativity Story, or Aesops fables, etc etc. After all, it's just a story to act out, the same as any other play.

[cactus flower]

I live in the real world. You obviously don't. How is Ireland ever going to get rid of the image of it being dominated by the RCC when it is they who educate 99% of all children and eejits like you say I have to accept it?!?

Who is saying you have to accept it?

Is anyone arguing on this thread that the State should not build non-religious primary schools and offer the choice of non-religious education to the parents of children?

One of the main reasons people are driving their children miles across towns to school is that children are split up by gender and religion/ethos.
They are all taught the same syllabus. My personal preference would be for a neighbourhood school system that all local children go to and where there is opportunity after hours for religious or ethical education of whatever kind people want.