Sir, – Seán Ó Díomasaigh claims that school patronage "is the offloading, by the State, of its responsibilities to subsidiary entities" (Letters, April 6th). Not so. The Constitution makes it perfectly clear that parents are the primary educators of their children, and therefore it is the parents who are off-loading their responsibilities, not the State.
Mr Ó Díomasaigh further describes that the national school model of educational provision as envisioned by the Stanley letter (1831), in which all children go to one school provided by the state, as “progressive”.
As a parent, I disagree. A progressive system of education, recognises that parents are best placed to know what type of education is best for their children, and the state does not endeavour to replace the parents’ role in this, but rather to try to deliver what they want. – Yours, etc,
MARIA MHIC MEANMAIN,
Enfield, Co Meath.
Sir,– I received my primary education in a Catholic primary school in Northern Ireland which welcomed and always had non-Catholic pupils during its existence. I taught most of my working life in a large Catholic secondary school which equally welcomes students of all religious denominations and none. Today that school is truly multidenominational and celebrates annually Hanukkah and Eid as well as Christmas, Easter, etc. As for Christmas, of course it won’t be cancelled. It will, however, be Christmas without Christ. The much-loved nativity play will be replaced by Santa and his elves. Christmas carols such as Away in a Manger and Silent Night will be replaced by Jingle Bells and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, etc.
I agree with Breda O’Brien (Opinion & Analysis, April 6th) when she says, “This State cannot even accommodate families in homes. Why are we surprised that it cannot accommodate children in schools?... The solution to this problem in urban areas is to build more schools”.
Not for the first time the State is looking to the church to solve its problems. – Yours, etc,
ANN KEHOE,
Dublin 15.