Sir, – Tony O'Gorman (August 4th) suggests that Atheist Ireland funds its own schools with its own patronage model that would reflect the needs of atheists. I am not sure if he is being ironic or not. A key point is that for most of Ireland outside of Dublin what we need are fewer more viable schools that meet the needs of the whole community and not more smaller schools in each village or town separated along sectarian lines.
We don’t have social services, medical centres, Garda stations and fire services separated along religious lines for a good reason – it would be crazy and unworkable. Imagine dialling 999. “I need an ambulance.” Response – “Would that be the Catholic ambulance, the Protestant ambulance or the secular ambulance?”
If it is so wrong for such services then why is it right for our hospitals and schools? – Yours, etc,
ANDREW DOYLE,
Bandon,
Co Cork.
Sir, – If the votaries of Atheist Ireland would like to propagate their views, perhaps they could do worse than to encourage the widest possible use of Christian formation in our schools.
As youngsters begin to grow up, they tend to have an annoying capacity to question and reject whatever they have learned from their parents and teachers.
To the extent that the atheists themselves will be able to indoctrinate the young, perhaps they should have a care that their undoubted zeal will result in the production of a variety of fervent theists of one sort or another. – Yours, etc,
PETER KENNY,
Dublin 14.
Sir, – In the discussion about school patronage a central point is being lost. The previous minister for education, on taking office, wanted half of our primary schools taken out of church control, and initiated the process by commissioning a survey of parents in those areas of the country where he expected that demand for non-denominational schools would be highest. The results were surprising – support for his proposals ranged from less than 1 per cent up to just 8 per cent. The vast majority of parents favour retention of the existing system.
Church members contributed to the setting up of denominational schools in the past, and (as taxpayers and fundraising supporters) continue to contribute to the costs of running these schools.
No one wants to deny secularists their own schools, in areas where there is sufficient demand, but it is elitist and undemocratic to seek to impose a secularist view of education on all our children, when their parents have, overwhelmingly and consistently, shown a clear preference for a spiritual dimension. – Yours, etc,
JIM STACK,
Lismore,
Co Waterford.