A chara, – Seán Ó Díomhsaigh (November 11th) suggests that all schools should be brought under the patronage of one body – the State.
The record of the State in providing other services, including healthcare, is appalling, and I don’t want my children thrown on the mercy of such incompetence. Such a proposal also stinks of elitism, where only those wealthy enough could afford to send their children to schools of their choosing. The rest of us have to take what the State gives us. That is hardly a fair system.
Paddy Monahan (November 11th) suggests that where oversubscription occurs, discrimination based on where a child lives should be used as an alternative to discrimination based on religion.
Leaving aside the fact that this would be unworkable in the Gaelscoil sector, it would also lead to a system of ghettoisation where children from disadvantaged areas would have no opportunity to attend school in another environment, while children in more privileged areas would be insulated from mixing with children of poorer backgrounds. Again this is not a very fair, equal or indeed progressive solution. – Yours, etc,
MARIA
MHIC MHEANMAIN,
Enfield, Co Meath.