Cathal Barry
Atheist Ireland announced its plans at the weekend to develop a course about atheism for primary level children in Irish schools.
An atheist organisation is planning to develop Ireland’s first ever school course on atheism.
Atheist Ireland announced its plans at the weekend to develop a course about atheism for primary level children in Irish schools.
The initiative is being developed in conjunction with Educate Together, which runs non-denominational primary schools around the country.
According to Atheist Ireland’s website, the initial project will involve 10 lessons aimed at one of four age groups at primary level and will be taught “in an objective, critical and pluralist manner”.
The lessons “will teach about atheism, not teach atheism,” the five-year-old organisation insisted.
Cultural inclusion
The development comes as Education Minister Ruairí Quinn launched a consultation process on religious and cultural inclusion in primary schools.
The Minister is urging parents and other interested parties to make submissions about catering for inclusion and children from different cultural, religious and belief traditions and to cite good examples of how schools cope with inclusion.
Good practices
“Many schools are already doing a good job in catering for children from different cultural, religious and belief traditions. I also want to hear about these good practices,” he said.
The eight-week consultation process is part of Mr Quinn’s response to the report of the advisory group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the primary sector.
The advisory group dealt with divesting of patronage of certain schools by the Catholic Church and it also made recommendations about ensuring schools are as inclusive as possible.
Recommendations included accommodating students with various belief systems and cultural traditions; the constitutional right to opt out of religious instruction; establishing school policies on the conduct of religious and cultural celebrations; and ensuring denominational school boards of management reflect the diversity of the local community.
