Irate dad takes son out of school over prayer recital [Independent.ie]
- Published: 27 January 2011
AN IRATE father who withdrew his young son from school after discovering that he was reciting prayers is considering further action against the school for "not sticking to its agreement".
Martijn Leenheer said he was "shocked" to accidentally discover five-year-old Finn had been reciting prayers several times a day at Drumlease Primary School in Dromahair, Co Leitrim, despite the fact that his parents had opted out of Catholic religious instruction for their child.
Finn now attends the Educate Together school in Sligo. But his father, who has outlined his case to the Irish Human Rights Commission, is considering taking his complaint to the Equality Authority or the Ombudsman for Children.
"I feel the school didn't respond to my concerns and they are still not responding to me.
"My belief is that the school should be responsible for supervising children if they want to opt out because the way it stands at the moment, they ask me if I want to opt out, I say, 'yes' and basically nothing happens," he told the Irish Independent.
Dutch-born Mr Leenheer said he and his wife Amanda had been given a "very welcoming" enrolment package when Finn started in the school, close to their home, last September.
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