Dee from Raheny is back

🧵 Two interesting letters in the Times today, both about religion in school. One is from a host of academics and the second is from Dee from Raheny. Let's go through them... irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2024/03/09/draft-primary-curriculum

2/ The first letter is written by a large list of academics, many of whom I know and respect. They teach in a range of universities and offer students modules on teaching the patron programmes in different schools.

3/ They rightly surmise that all schools in Ireland have a patron's programme, whether denominational or multi-denominational. Most importantly they confirm that these programmes "envelope the entire curriculum" not just the 2 or so hours per school week.

4/ The idea that reducing the subject of religion from 2.5 hours to 2 hours per week makes zero difference to those that have to opt out of this patron's programme. However, the letter takes a curious turn and I'm concerned it gives an untrue representation.

5/ It states "In reality, education about religions, beliefs, and worldviews is already an integral aspect of religious education and ethical/multi-belief and values education in Irish primary schools." This is not a fair representation of denominational schools.

6/ In the Catholic programme only 2 chapters of the Grow in Love Programme over 8 years examine Judaism and Islam and they do not take an objective view of them. In all denominational schools, the core aim is to pass on the faith of that patron.

7/ Dee from Raheny, I'd suggest, represents the view of most teachers. She is supposed to dedicate 2.5 hours per week to faith formation but admits that she doesn't fulfil her obligation. I don't think she is alone in this.

8/ Dee admits that children that aren't Catholic in her school are segregated from the rest of her class and while they might not be "twiddling their thumbs" they are separated from their peers because they are the "wrong" faith.

9/ Dee, like many of her colleagues, probably goes into her staff room and fails to see that there is no diversity within that staff room at teacher level and fails to see that the role of patronage is one of the big reasons for this.

10/ Dee and her colleagues will all have promised at interview to uphold the ethos of their school and spend 2.5 hours providing faith formation and many more hours preparing children for sacraments.

11/ For those of us at the backs of classrooms or those of us not able to even access the classroom because we are the wrong faith in 95% of schools, neither of these letters give us any solace.

12/ Whether it's 2.5 or 2 hours per week, whether it envelopes the entire day, whatever way people would like to normalise faith instruction in our primary schools, even Dee agrees that she wants much less of it.

13/ The trouble is that Dee and her colleagues do nothing about that because they work in a "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" system. They know if they speak out, they risk the wrath of Section 37 of the Employment Equality Act, so they pretend the problem doesn't exist.

14/ Most of them do what Dee does, which is to play along with the system. If the priest isn't around, they'll do very little but on Catholic Schools' Week or during the sacraments, they'll be happily praying their hearts out.

15/ Meanwhile the children at the back of the class will be told to be grateful because they are welcome into the school. And for those teachers, can they not pretend just like Dee from Raheny? All they need to do is not ask any questions and just play along with the charade. /