Majority of Irish parents want less religion in Schools.

[Wolverine2]

...and for the state to manage primary schools, with all religions treated equally.

This according to a Red C poll commissioned by the Irish Primary Principals Network.

Full story here:

RTE Report

So are we losing something or gaining something?

[TradCat]

If that's what so many parents want then such schools should be made available. Those who do not subscribe to a Catholic educational ethos should not be forced by limited choice to use Catholic schools.

The Church needs to establish for the demand is for Catholic schooling and provide that. It should be willing to transfer any surplus buildings to the state for multi-denominational and secular options. I would choose Catholic education for my children but I have no interest in forcing my choice on anyone else.

[mairteenpak]

Make public school buildings available to various religious groups after school hours for religious teaching / indoctrination would seem to be a good solution.

[red365]

Massive public resources are spent on indoctrination.

The various churches should take on responsibility for religious instruction, not the taxpayer.

[TradCat]

Massive public resources are spent on indoctrination.

The various churches should take on responsibility for religious instruction, not the taxpayer.

Catholic parents are taxpayers too and their choice must be respected. I don't think any sane person wants a state monopoly in education. Choice is essential to and the state should fund schools on an equal basis.

[odie1kanobe]

Massive public resources are spent on indoctrination.

The various churches should take on responsibility for religious instruction, not the taxpayer.

Catholic parents are taxpayers too and their choice must be respected. I don't think any sane person wants a state monopoly in education. Choice is essential to and the state should fund schools on an equal basis.

Yup the secular model works so well in the UK.

Dumb down exams, force Universities to take state educated kids with poorer results.

Where as Religious aided schools are heavily oversubscribed.

[Wednesday]

Catholic parents are taxpayers too and their choice must be respected.

I don't really understand this argument. People pay taxes for education because it's in the interests not only of children, but also of society to have an educated populace. Paying for someone else's kids to be indoctrinated in their parents' religion is another matter entirely. Why on earth should I have to pay for that?

[White Horse]

Catholic parents are taxpayers too and their choice must be respected.

I don't really understand this argument. People pay taxes for education because it's in the interests not only of children, but also of society to have an educated populace. Paying for someone else's kids to be indoctrinated in their parents' religion is another matter entirely. Why on earth should I have to pay for that?

Some of my taxes goes towards non-denominational schools. I don't have a problem with that, it is all about parental choice.

[Universal_001]

I still think it should be out of schools totally (as fact, as opposed to teaching them all religions and the history of it) and if parents want to still teach it to kids as fact they can organize sunday schools in the church resource centres, who better than the church itself to teach the stuff instead of some bored and disintrested teacher

[willanto]

anybody know what the exact question was. And was it random selection poll? 3/4 seems quite high.