“One size does not fit all” a clear message from schools
The findings of a Department of Education survey which showed that most parents find their local denominational schools to be inclusive, have been broadly welcomed in the Catholic education sector.
The original set of recommendations from the Department’s Forum on Patronage and Pluralism gave rise to fears that the ethos of religious schools would be watered down. However, a progress report published last week states that “one size does not fit all” is a clear message from individual schools “which are adapting in different ways to the rapidly changing pupil profile in their classrooms”.
“Our schools have adapted to the changes in society and many schools are positively disposed towards serving all members of the communities in which they are located. These schools have initiated new practices and have adapted existing practices in order to accommodate diversity among their pupils,” the report states.
Fr Michael Drumm (pictured), Chairperson of the Catholic Schools Partnership, which is developing its own guidelines on inclusivity, told The Irish Catholic the progress report was “very welcome”. “It is good that the report is based on research on what is already happening in schools, rather than setting an agenda to schools,” he said. “It encourages schools to implement best practice and identifies good practices already in place.”
The report recommends that the celebration of religious festivals “be handled sensitively in consultation with parents and groups of different religions” and rather than the banning of “religious artefacts” suggests that “other artefacts from different traditions could also be displayed”.
Surprise
Prof. Eamonn Conway, Head of Theology in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick said it was “great to see work of teachers being fully acknowledged” but expressed surprise at the reference to religious artefacts.
“This is a serious category error because artefacts are objects of cultural and historical interest by definition and a crucifix in a Catholic school is a symbol of faith and indeed religious symbols of other religions are representations of faith as well, not simply artefacts.”