SIOBHAN UI MHAONAILE,
Sir, - There seems to be a lack of understanding of what a Catholic-Protestant Interdenominational school is. As a member of the founding committee and a parent of two children attending the first interdenominational school in the Republic, I would like to explain its origins and development.
Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain started in 1996 when a group of parents got together to start a Gaelscoil for their children. When it came to the time to decide an ethos there were three options available to us, Catholic, Protestant or multi-denominational. The founding committee included members of the Catholic, Church of Ireland and Methodist communities. The parents involved did not want the school to be single-denominational. The multi-denominational model was considered but was unanimously rejected. A multi-denominational school does not teach any particular faith or creed but facilitates any group of parents to organise religious instruction for their children outside the main school programme. The founding committee wanted a Christian ethos within the school education programme, but no such model existed in the Republic of Ireland.
We consulted some of the integrated schools in Northern Ireland which had developed good working models. After detailed discussions between the Catholic and Protestant members of the founding committee we put together a detailed Catholic-Protestant Interdenominational religious education programme which gave equal status to both Catholic and Protestant faiths and traditions. The programme is based on the Religious Education Programmes laid down by the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin and the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin and Glendalough. Our 15-member founding committee unanimously approved the interdenominational ethos. This ethos and religious education programme were submitted to Foras Patrúnachta Scoileanna Lán Ghaeilge and accepted by them. Thus interdenominational schools were born.
In Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain our interdenominationalism is based on an ecumenical foundation by which the Catholic and Protestant faiths are given equal status. The children are taught in a way that highlights similar beliefs and celebrates differences between the faiths. Special care is taken to explain differences in belief and worship patterns of the represented denominations.
Preparation of children for whom the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation are relevant is carried out by teachers within school hours. For Protestants, for whom the sacraments are not applicable, invitations may be issued for their instruction within a Protestant denominational framework during this time. To date, in Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain, the children who are not receiving First Holy Communion have participated in the preparation for the sacrament and in the service itself - the welcome, the choir, etc. All the children in the class wear albs in the church as a symbol of their equality and unity. Their parents attend with them. Everybody then attends the First Holy Communion breakfast in the school.
All the children celebrate the Harvest Thanksgiving in the school and in the local Church of Ireland. Children in our school celebrate Christian Unity Day with the children from the local Church of Ireland school in the Church of Ireland Church. Our Christmas Nativity play is celebrated on alternate years in the Church of Ireland and Catholic Churches. A Church of Ireland Deacon visits the school on a regular basis and takes bible study classes. Local Catholic and Protestant clergy also visit the school. This is helped in no small way by a very good relationship between Gaelscoil Chill Mhantain and the Catholic, Church of Ireland and Methodist clergy.
When advertising teaching posts, it is made clear that the school is Catholic-Protestant interdenominational under the patronage of Foras Patrúnachta Scoileanna Lán Ghaeilge.
As a symbol of Christian Unity a cross is displayed in the school. It is school policy not to display religious symbols, statues or pictures. However, some of these are used as teaching aids at appropriate times.
Our programme has, so far, been successful but we are still learning. This success is due in no small way to the commitment of the teachers, the parents, local clergy, the board of management and the wider community. - Is mise,
SIOBHAN UI MHAONAILE, Baile Mhic an Ghaill Mor, Cill Mhantain, Co Chill Mhantain.