"Ireland Plans to Reduce Number of Church-Run Schools" - Blog 9, Caitlin Gault

The article that I read this week focused on schools in Ireland, and the potential for those schools to move out from under religious ruling. Currently, the Catholic church is the patron for many schools, but an upcoming survey will offer parents the chance to make decisions about the future patronage of their children’s schools. Those who will be surveyed first were selected “because of the high student population density… [as well as] their increasing ethnic and religious diversity” (Lawrence, 2012). This will allow those who are of differing ethnic and religious backgrounds to have more schools that are suited to their interests and beliefs. Several alternative patrons have expressed interest in taking over the patronage for schools should parents indicate an interest in shifting patronage, including “An Foras Pátrúnachta, the patron body for Gaelscoileanna in Ireland; Educate Together; VECs; the National Learning Network; and the Redeemed Christian Church of God” (McGreevy & Flynn, 2012). One of the potential consequences that people are concerned about in this situation would be that not enough parents would fill out the survey (either from lack of interest or lack of accessibility to the internet, as it is an online survey). The Catholic Church will only release patronage if the majority of parents (involving a large portion of those who are being surveyed) respond and ask for a shift in patronage.

            This is an interesting decision made by those in the Ministry of Education, especially when one considers the extreme religious disagreements present in both Northern Ireland and Ireland. I am surprised that the Ministry of Education has made this decision, but I think it is a very forward-thinking move, and could have positive outcomes regarding the promotion of religious diversity and parental approval. I wonder how this action will affect the educational system of the schools. I do not know much about the patronage system in Ireland, but I wonder if a shift in patronage would affect the curriculum, and how that could affect the next generation of students. Could a change in curriculum affect Irish students in a positive way, potentially embracing diversity in a more positive way? Education in general is important, but so is the ability to understand and appreciate people from differing backgrounds, with different beliefs, values, and traditions.

Lawrence, Julia. "Ireland Plans to Reduce Number of Church-Run Schools | Education News." Education News. N.p., 24 Oct. 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.educationnews.org/international-uk/ireland-plans-to-reduce-number-of-church-run-schools/>.

McGreevy, Ronan , and Sean Flynn. "Schools under new patrons 'by September' - The Irish Times - Tue, Oct 23, 2012." The Irish Times. N.p., 23 Oct. 2012. Web. 26 Oct. 2012. <http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/1023/1224325578365.html>.