Sir, – The cross-Border study reported upon ("Non-religious teachers 'hide' beliefs for job opportunities, says study", News, May 4th) only consulted 15 teachers in Ireland, five from the North and 10 from the South. All 15 were all recruited through "snowballing" or "chain-referral", a method whereby one respondent recommends another, very often of like mind. Therefore, contrary to what the study contends, the findings are far from generalisable and provide no basis for advocating changes to law or policy.
My experience is that it is not just teachers unsure about or uncomfortable with a religious ethos who feel they must hide or suppress their identity, as the report suggests.
A recent meeting of Catholic educators under the auspices of the Global Researchers Advancing Catholic Education project at Mary Immaculate College heard from several teachers (twice the number referred to in the report) of how challenging it can be to acknowledge their religious convictions openly and sincerely, whether in the classroom or the staffroom, and this even in schools which purport to have a religious ethos.
It is past time, therefore, to find a solution to the divestment problem that is reasonable and equitable for all concerned. – Yours, etc,
(Rev Prof) EAMONN
CONWAY,
Head of Theology
and Religious Studies,
Mary Immaculate College,
Limerick.