Irish teachers have rejected a series of proposals including some described as “deeply insulting” which sought to reduce the role of religion in Catholic primary education.
Alan Hynes, Chief Executive of the Catholic Education Partnership (CEP), said the outcome of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) congress highlighted a disconnect between the union’s public messaging and the views of teachers on the ground.
Mr Hynes was particularly critical of part (c) of the motion, which questioned the effectiveness of wellbeing and inclusion policies in a school system dominated by religious patrons. It read: “c. notes the Department of Education’s emphases on inclusivity and wellbeing but asserts these are ineffective while 95% of primary schools remain under religious control”. Though it was ruled out of order, he described its intent as a direct affront to teachers.
“I’m stunned to see that any group of teachers in any branch of the INTO would put forward something as insulting towards the professionalism of their fellow teachers and principals as to place a motion before their own trade union stating what section (c) stated,” he said.
“It seemed to me to call into question the professionalism of teachers in Catholic schools… I find it utterly disgraceful that anybody would call their commitment to the wellbeing of the pupils in their care into question in the way that the particular group of teachers that put forward that motion did so.”
Mr Hynes also pointed to the Department of Education’s reconfiguration pilot, which sought to identify schools willing to transfer from Catholic to other forms of patronage. The results, he said, were revealing.
“Over 60 areas were engaged… and out of all of those areas, only three schools were identified as wishing to divest patronage to a non-Catholic patron,” he said. “An overwhelming majority of parents and staff opted to stay within the Catholic system.”
He said that ultimately the question of school ethos is about parental rights, not teacher preferences.
“Our schools exist to provide an education to children on behalf of those children’s parents… primarily what this is about is parental rights to choose the type of education for their children,” Mr Hynes said.
He added: “I find it interesting that the minority teachers would believe that they have the right to dictate the form of education that children will receive, in a way that doesn’t respect the freedom and constitutional rights of parents.”
