A chara, – We now know that the UN, a former minister for education, the chairman of the forum on patronage and pluralism, and various others wish to see fewer schools under religious patronage ("Segregation concerns over transfer of school patronage", January 2nd). It all seems rather overwhelming. Except that the people on the ground aren't as keen; in fact the reason that the idea isn't progressing is because of "huge local hostility".
Parents don’t like the plan and parents, as it happens, are the primary educators of their children. It even says so in the Constitution. Which tends to make, I would suggest, the forces behind the push to wrest the control of schools into other hands a lot more underwhelming than they might at first appear. – Is mise,
Rev PATRICK G BURKE,
Castlecomer, Co Kilkenny.