Irish teachers' union objects to religious schools
June 22, 2011
Ireland’s largest teachers’ union has called for government policies that would restrict the religious character of denominational schools.
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) charged that current policy “allows for discrimination against teachers by schools,” since religious-affiliated schools are not required to hire teachers whose views or behavior would conflict with the school’s religious character, such as avowed atheists or homosexuals.
INTO also objected to schools in whose religious character permeates the curriculum, saying that the result “is not fair to anyone.” Religious instruction should take place only within certain defined parts of the school day, INTO said, and any times dedicated to prayer should be “public or personal but inclusive and respectful of all beliefs in the classroom.”
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Posted by: dover beachcomber -
Jun. 22, 2011 10:12 PM ET USA
Stand fast, Irish Catholics! Your forefathers refused to give in to barbarian invasion, English tyranny, and Protestant persecution. Are you really going to fold now in the face of ... a teachers' union??
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Posted by: Defender -
Jun. 22, 2011 11:50 AM ET USA
There are some in our own Catholic schools that would rather lessen religion in and around the classrooms. We have teachers who are not Catholic, we have administrators who are more concerned with tests and technology or with their own agenda and we have teachers and administrators who don't know or care to know our Faith. Knowing and promoting being Catholic is our first responsibility.
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Posted by: -
Jun. 22, 2011 10:50 AM ET USA
God, where did this contagion come from? Oh, wait ...
