Sir, – We have opted to have our children educated in a school of our ethos (ie Protestant), as is our right under the Constitution.
This means that they have to attend a private secondary school, for which we have to pay fees, as there is no non-fee paying protestant school in rural Ireland. In a country where most children enjoy free secondary education, we thus already have to pay to have our children educated in our faith.
Our children will now face bigger classes than their counterparts in public schools (Front page, November 19th), which in practice means less subject choices. In other words, all Protestant children in this country who attend a Protestant secondary school are worse off than most of their Catholic friends.
We call this discrimination.
Imagine if the Government took a decision to increase the class size in schools that are intended for and primarily attended by other minorities, such as Travellers, or children of immigrants.
We all know that it would never happen, as the Government is well aware that such discrimination is not only unacceptable but also against the law.
This secular State has now decided to treat children of a religious minority as second-class citizens. What exactly is the message here, from Enda Kenny? – Yours, etc,