Open the school gates - Equate Ireland campaign

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

It won't open.

I can't for the life of me figure out where he's pulling that out if... This is the text from the pdf he linked.

“NEW GOVERNMENT MUST OPEN THE SCHOOL GATES TO ALL CHILDREN”
Press Release, Monday 1st
February 2016
Children’s rights organisation EQUATE today announced a campaign aimed at making reform
of our school’s system a priority of the next government.
The ‘Open The School Gates’ campaign is supported by key children and human rights
organisations including The ISPCC, Barnardos, Children’s Rights Alliance, EPIC, Migrant’s
Rights Centre of Ireland, BeLonG To, One Family, Pavee Point and The Humanist Association
of Ireland.
Speaking the launch of the campaign, EQUATE Executive Director Michael Barron said “The
time has come for all schools to be inclusive so that no child, regardless of their religion, is
excluded from their local school. The next government needs to prioritise education reform so
all children can grow and learn together’
“Today we are delighted to be joined by so many key children and human rights groups who
support equality in education. We believe that no child should be excluded from their local
school because of their religion or identity and we need to reform the classroom so every child
can experience and participate throughout the school day, regardless of religion or non-
religion. We have reached a national concensus on the need for these reforms, the question is
no longer ‘if’ but ‘how’ and ‘when’. We call on all political parties to prioritise equality in
education in the election ahead and on the next governement to make it a key area of work.”
As part of the campaign, EQUATE is encouraging people contact all candidates in their
constituency through their website portal but also to question local election candidates when
they call to their door, asking them to:
 Work to change the law so local schools cannot refuse a child because of their religion
 Work to reform the school day so all children can take part in every class
 Campaign for a greater number of multi and non-denominational schools
They also launched a short online film called ‘Open the School Gates’ which aims to further
the national conversation on equality in our schools.
Jodie Neary, a parent speaking at today’s launch stated, “I am mother of young twin girls and
like many other parents I don’t know where my children will be going to school and that is
simply because my partner and I have chosen not to baptise our children.
“I am supporting the Open the School Gates campaign because I want my children to have the
same rights to a school place as any other child in our community. I want politicians to know
that this is a real concern for me and many parents in my community and the time has come
for the law to change”
Grainia Long, CEO of ISPCC Childline speaking at the launch stated “We are proud to support
EQUATE’s campaign and become an active member of the “Open the School Gates Coalition.
“The ISPCC mission is to ensure all children have a positive experience of childhood and that
must start with allowing all children to access their local school and then for schools to be
inclusive, supportive and protective of children’s rights.”

Notes to the editor:
1. Michael Barron is available for interview
2. EQUATE General Election 2016 Manifesto: http://www.equateireland.ie/#!general-
election-2016/c1cuz
3. EQUATE’s Behaviour and Attitudes research:
o 46% would not chose a Christian school for their child if they had a choice
locally
o 1 in 5 are aware of someone who has baptised their child just to get them into
the local school
o 84% think the Irish education system should be reformed so that no child is
excluded because of their religion or non-religion
o 77% do not think a school should have right to refuse admission to a child who
has a different religion to that of the school’s patron
o 62% think reform of school patronage should be a key priority for next
Government
o 87% think that the State has responsibility to ensure that children do not
experience religious discrimination in school curriculum
o 82% think Ireland should do all it can to honour its international human rights
obligations to ensure equality in our education system
ENDS
For further information, please contact:
Fidelma Guinan (Tel) 0862344751
(Email) fidelma@equateireland.ie
About EQUATE:
EQUATE is a children’s rights organisation that is advocating for a substantial change in how
primary and secondary school education is delivered in Ireland. We believe that education is
a fundamental cornerstone of our society and our schools must operate in the best interest
of all our children. We believe that our education system must be fit for purpose in the 21st
century, reflecting the diversity of our families, our communities and our
society.www.equateireland.ie

^ that post seems to contain an integral U-turn
You got it right in the end though.

Interesting, that's 3 orgs that have been smitten now (Ed Equality and Amnesty too)
Maybe SIPO are going after the individuals who controlled Equate? The article doesn't say.
EE are scurrying now to form themselves into a limited company, which would protect individual members more.