Sir, – AM Kehoe (December 19th) believes, like too many, that democracy allows for tyrannical behaviour by a majority. What we are supposed to have here in Ireland is a constitutional democracy, which holds that minorities have certain inalienable rights.
Foremost among these is the right to an education, free from religious indoctrination if that is what is required.
To regard it as legitimate that any percentage of a region’s parents should be obliged to have their children educated in State-funded schools in an atmosphere of ubiquitous religious symbolism – having to go somewhere apart when religious ceremony and direct instruction takes place and with the incorporation of religious principles in all subjects taught throughout the school day – when they do not want this, is to support a straightforward negation of their civil rights.
The solution is clear: religious instruction should be given in the home or in the appropriate place of worship. Schools and especially State schools, which are funded by all taxpayers, should be places where children are taught how to think, not what to think. – Yours, etc,