Opinions on Educate Together

Hiya, I'm not a parent but I recently did work placement in ET and can tell you that your child would definitely get a proper education there. They might not look like much at the moment, but are moving to a new premises next year and I'm sure the facilities will improve when they move (Although there's nothing wrong with the facilities they have now).

It's a great learning environment for the children IMO, the teachers are wonderful and patient and the Principal is always accomodating for any parent who wants to meet with her, hope this helps

bradknowell wrote: »

Friend has her daughter in educate together in wexford and she loves it. As in the mother loves it because its not religous. All I hear from her is its great because of the religious thing but she never mentions anything about the actual learning her child is getting

So its a good school because theres no religious ethos???????!!!!!!

My son (6) has been going to Educate Together since we moved back to Ireland in February -- he's been in senior infants and is due to begin class 1 the end of August. While I'm strongly atheist, ET wasn't my first choice -- but all other schools were full and the waiting lists were ridiculously long. I needed to get my son in school so off to ET he went. I was put off by the ugly old building and lack of outside areas, but I'm told they're moving to a new building next year -- although I don't yet know where that's going to be. Hopefully not too far from the town as I don't drive and currently get the bus into town then walk.

At first he had a lot of trouble with some kids there and found it really difficult to settle in, but that has since blown over (save for one horrible kid whose mother doesn't know how to discipline him) and he's now happy there. He's learning at a steady rate. His reading and writing has come on leaps and bounds, his maths is brilliant, etc. I wish they would discuss more history & geography topics, as he was learning about all sorts in his last school in England, but I understand they don't begin all that until after senior infants. The focus these past few months has been very much on developing the language of the senior infants with writing, reading, comprehension, etc -- basically readying them for class 1 and "proper" learning. They're also encouraged to develop their own feelings, communication, etc -- to the point where there was even a section in his end of year report marking him on how well he effectively communicates his feelings. This, I feel, is a bit too "hippie" for my liking, but it doesn't seem to be doing him any damage and he's getting in a lot less arguments with other kids at school, so I suppose it's beneficial.

There isn't much by way of PE or any kind of physical activity yet -- I don't know if that's because they don't have the facilities in this crappy temp building, or because junior/senior infants aren't pushed into sports, but it's worth noting that when he comes home, he's full of pent-up energy and generally goes out with his mates in the estate here to run around for a good couple of hours. The only outside space is that tiny little courtyard in front of the school and kids that age need more than that to burn energy.

There are no religious teachings, obviously (which I'm glad about), and at age 6 he's already being taught sex/health education. *Not* about sex itself -- last month the topic was the womb. Some people will be put off by their kids learning that kind of thing so young, but I'm just as open with him at home, so it's not a bother for me personally.

The school does try to get the parents involved a lot. Whenever there are events going on, parents are asked to contribute. There are regular coffee mornings and informal parent meetings (I've never been to them). The "voluntary" contribution and price of books/materials can possibly be too steep for some parents, but I understand you can split it over several instalments. There isn't a school uniform to purchase and maintain -- kids wear their own clothes, which I think ends up more expensive in the long run. I'm having to buy my son new clothes so often because he wrecks them at school with various paints, grubbiness, scraping his knees on that concrete courtyard, etc.

The lunch rules are a bit annoying. There's a very strict list of things he's allowed and not allowed in his lunch and any breaking of that rule will result in a letter home. I don't feed my kid a lot of junk but some of what they consider junk is ridiculous and you have to get really creative in order to give your child a bit of variety.

Do I think my son is in the best school for his needs? It's impossible to tell in infants/senior infants. Class 1 & 2 will be telling and at the end of next year I will be assessing the situation and sitting him down to ask if he's happy to stay on there or if he'd rather change. He would still be young enough to have time to settle in a new school, but obviously I'd rather avoid that if I can, as he's already changed schools this year. But for now I'm happy with his progress and looking forward to seeing how he gets on over the coming year.

angelfalling wrote: »

My daughter will be starting this fall in the Educate Together and I'm delighted for her to be going there. We are not religious and I wasn't about to make her feel like she was some weird outcast. I'm not having her sit in a class teaching her what we believe are untruths, coming home and then having to explain that she can trust the school to teach her the truth about other stuff, but not that. Or worse, have her sit out of class (which I hear rarely get followed through on) and be left out. With Educate Together she'll learn about all the world religions and cultures without emphasis on any particular religion as being true. This is important enough to us to choose Educate Together. The ET in Waterford follows a fairly mainstream sort of curriculum-- many of the teachers are from a typical primary school background anyways. Honestly, without the ET option we'd likely attempt homeschooling (which isn't something I ever thought I'd consider). It's not all hippy-dippys, and honestly I'd rather my kids go to school with a few hippy types than the kind of kids they could go to school with. One thing you can feel good about is that most people have gone out of their way to put their kids names down for the ET, so they mostly all do care about their kids education and how the school is doing.
Your child will be at an advantage, not a disadvantage. The new building site is out the road toward gracedieu around carrickpherrish.

Your post comes across as a bit snobbish really.

Are you really trying to say that no school in Waterford (besides ET) would have been suitable for your child?

Cabaal wrote: »

Although your comment is going to (and clearly has) upset some users here from what your saying i can only assume you perhaps mean....

That when it comes to schools often parents just put their kid into the local school because its local and its what was done with them,

This is more often the case even if they (the parents) are not in anyway religious they will still send their kid to a religious school because its the "done thing" and they'll do the communion thing because its the done thing, again even though they don't believe a word of it.

This is kind of concerning when you think about it as your putting your kid into a system where they are expected to believe in a religion that you yourself do not believe in.

By going with ET you are taking a more active role and interest in your kids upbringing and the long term implications of your choice of school.

Least thats my take on your comment....



angelfalling mentioned she wasn't religious and didn't want their kid being an outcast in a religious school,

So unless you know of any other school in Waterford other then ET that doesn't push religion on the kids?

AFAIK, religous education is mandatory in Ireland.

ET schools do teach religion, but they don't stick with one, they teach several of them.

From what I've heard about the ET schools, if I had children I'd much rather send them to a religious school. Sure, you may not have the same beliefs as the school and feel they're pushing their beliefs on your child. But realistically, by sending your child to an ET school because you're anti-religious and want your child to be that way is exactly the same thing you feel a religious school would do?

I'd much rather a child go to a normal school, learn religion and then have their own choice on whether they want to believe it or not, than send them to a newly formed school which in reality is going to outcast them in secondary school, as the ethos that an ET school follows is vastly different to regular primary and secondary schools.

mike65 wrote: »

Christ on a bike - you'd think Atheism was a crime committed by cranks reading some of this thread.

Schools should be non-religious in every aspect, keep Church (any church) in Church or the home.

What if parents want their child to receive religious instruction in school?

Finnbar01 wrote: »

I disagree, if you don't want one religion to be forced on your child, why would you want several?



How is that working out for the UK?

I would agree with Cabaal on this, its about allowing clear understanding of all religions and parent's wishes. It's about allowing a school to teach children and shape their minds without the influence of one religion.

A lot of Irish schools are still influenced by the church (catholic, protestant, etc) and their parish, therefore their doctrine can often times overrule the curriculum being proposed.

Therefore, teaching a child either about all faiths or none, equates to the same thing. Balanced and unbiased opinions of other people beliefs.

In addition; it's about the freedon of choice, granted some parents have no choice but to send their child / children to a religous school, but those who can choose should not be seen as outcasts or having airs above their station.


I have a daughter who I will be sending to ET, when she is old enough. I have already been asked in other schools if she has been christened and I think that if a school is state-funded then, religion should be a choice-subject like physics or accountancy. As plenty of Muslim, Hindu, and other religious families pay taxes that fund schools, who don't cater for their religion. Therefore ET is their only option.

deisemum wrote: »

They can have their religious instruction after school. I think the majority of parents would like a choice.

I have nothing against choice whatsoever. AFAIK, surveys carry out suggested that a majority of parents want their children to recieve religious instruction in school. If that is their choice, then the state has a duty to uphold it.

BTW, I want to be absolutely clear I have nothing against ET or other non denominational schools.

Dan133269 wrote: »

Who wins out in this situation? Well, no one has to lose out I would say.

The solution, I would posit, would be to have public taxpayer schools completely devoid of religious instruction, and then parents would be free to instruct their child in a particular religion in their own time, expense and discretion as they so wish. That would be secularism.

But again if we have taxpaying parents who want their children instructed in a particular religion, that's what the state has to provide for.

If someone is so hell-bent on educating their child in a religious environment, then they should provide for it themselves, imo.

They are providing it for themselves, through paying taxes and supporting the school through other financial means.

By deferring to Church demands, the State merely breeds a sectarian religious attitude in the domain of public education.

I don't agree with this. There is absolutely no evidence that we have a sectarian problem here in the Republic.

AFAIk, some acrhbishop came out recently and welcomed the Labours partys' recommendation of having more non RC schools.