You'll miss the Catholic ethos if it goes [Independent.ie]
- Published: 18 March 2011
Such are the vagaries of news that a story which in one week might get a lot of attention will get none at all in another.
In a quieter week than this, a speech Archbishop Diarmuid Martin delivered on Tuesday evening in Mater Dei Institute on the subject of church and State would have been reported more widely than it was.
It deserved to be, because in it he had important things to say about the Constitution, the planned children's rights referendum, the constitutional definition of marriage, and the future of denominational education.
With regard to children's rights, he acknowledged the need to "ensure the rights of children are properly protected" but cautioned against thinking that "simply moving responsibility from parents to the State would provide a more effective answer".
In a low-key, non-confrontational manner (which may also explain the lack of media coverage) he also fired a shot across the bows of the Government and its planned 'Constitutional Convention'.
The Government doesn't need to be told that Martin is the most influential churchman in the country and therefore it should pay attention to what he had to say on this.
With regard to the Constitution in general, he defended it against "simplistic caricatures" that it represents an "unquestioning regurgitation of sectarian Catholic principles". He said it is "remarkably modern in many of its aspects" and that constitutions should not be "played around with lightly".
He defended the constitutional definition of the family as based on the marriage of a man and a woman. He said other forms of relationship should be given their fundamental rights, but that traditional marriage is "a fundamental good in society, which deserves a unique protection".
But the government minister that needs to pay the closest attention of all to this address is our new Education Minister, Ruairi Quinn.
Despite his embarrassing neo-McCarthyite paranoia at the time of the publication of the Ryan Report about the Department of Education being infiltrated by members of Opus Dei and the Knights of St Columbanus, I suspect that Quinn on the whole will be more inclined to listen to opposing views than some of his colleagues.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Concern for viability of small primary schools [sligotoday.ie]
- Published: 18 March 2011
The Department of Education will receive final representations today from interest groups concerned about the future of small primary schools.
It has begun a review of all schools with fewer than 50 pupils to examine whether they represent value for money. Today is the deadline for submissions.
There are concerns among parent groups and rural communities that the review will lead to the closure of local schools.
The Department of Education says this review is taking place in the context of pressure on funding and resources, and to see if money being spent on these schools is being spent wisely.
One fifth of all Primary schools in Ireland - or just under 600 - cater for fewer than 50 pupils. They are all two- and even one-teacher schools and most are in rural areas.
The McCarthy report recommended amalgamating all of these schools with others to save an estimated €18m. It also recommended the amalgamation of schools with one hundred or fewer pupils.
Full Story: www.sligotoday.ie
Changes in school patronage [IrishTimes]
- Published: 17 March 2011
Madam, – The establishment of a forum on school patronage by the Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, is to be welcomed (March 12th).
However, even before it starts, it is disquieting to read that the Minister feels it necessary to deny that the Labour Party has a secular agenda. We must reject the historical mental conditioning that has created the notion that a secular society is in some way an illegitimate aspiration.
A secular State school system, where parents are free to give their children the religious ideas they wish in their homes and in their places of worship, without impinging on the justifiable wishes of those who do not want their children exposed to dogma that is presented as irrefutable fact, is very much to be desired.
A secular agenda is not an atheistic agenda. It simply makes room in the spectrum of belief for those who have no religion. It is nothing short of intolerance that this has not been the case in our State-funded primary schools up to the present time.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Extra land secured for education campus [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 16 March 2011
Plans for an integrated education village at a former military site have moved a step forward after land from a second base was secured for the £100m scheme.
Previously the 140-acre Lisanelly Army Barracks in Omagh was gifted to the Department of Education for a pioneering campus housing six post primary schools.
It was announced that the flood plains of the adjacent St Lucia base will also be gifted for use in the Co Tyrone project.
The news was welcomed by Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott, who said it was a “step closer” to the completion of the campus.
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Report criticises Lisdoonvarna school’s board of management [clarechampion.ie]
- Published: 16 March 2011
The Department of Education and Science has advised the board of management of a North Clare school to familiarise itself “as a matter of priority,” with guidelines on the constitution of such boards and their rules of procedure.
The department made the recommendation after a Whole School Evaluation (WSE) of Scoil Éinde Naofa in Lisdoonvarna. The inspection took place on February 8 last year but was only published by the Department of Education and Skills recently.
The WSE report makes a number of key recommendations, with three directed towards the school’s board of management. It advised “as a matter of priority, the board should familiarise itself with the contents of Board of Management of National Schools: Constitution of Board and Rules of Procedure (Department of Education and Science, 2007). The board should access further training opportunities to enable it to discharge its duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Education Act (1998).”
It also states that “communication and collaboration among members of the board of management should be improved” and that the board should arrange for the development of a strategic plan to address certain areas in organisational and curriculum planning. The report notes that the board meets regularly and some board members give generously of their time in helping with the maintenance of the school buildings and in keeping board minutes and maintaining financial records. It says that the board “discharges some of its duties effectively” but adds that the work of the board of management could be further developed.
“The board members, at the pre-evaluation meeting, stated that they were not fully aware of their votes, duties and statutory obligations. Some members of the board accessed training but were of the view that such training was insufficient and did not provide them with clarity in respect of their roles and responsibilities. Concerns were raised about adherence to proper meeting procedures and the confidentiality of board meetings and decisions. Some members of the board stated that they were unsure of the procedures relating to the investigation of complaints and the implementation of behaviour and bullying policies in the school,” the report states.
“At the pre-evaluation meeting, a poor working relationship was observed among a small number of board members. It is apparent that collaboration among some board members is generally poor. To date, the board has not adequately fulfilled its role in terms of the development, consideration and ratification of whole-school policies. Some discussion has taken place on policies concerning complaints procedures and the issues of behaviour and bullying but, for the most part, policies required by statute or Department of Education and Skills guidelines have been drafted by the staff but have not been presented to the board of management for consideration and ratification,” the WSE report reads.
Full Story: www.clarechampion.ie
