Refuse to send my child to a catholic school

04-03-2011 10:25PM

huskerdu wrote: »

Its really really hard to be a non-Catholic in Ireland.

Is it really, though?

bigbrotherfan · 04-03-2011 11:10PM

huskerdu wrote: »

I know that you think this is true, but you really, really dont understand the problem. I am an athiest whose children go to a Catholic school. I am not very happy about this but have compromised.

The religion syllabus for Catholics school is quite good in some ways where it emphasises good morals and ethics, but religion IS ramped down the throat of the pupils. Its everywhere, all the time. Religion is taught for 2.5 hours a week. It is not possible to opt out of religion classes, as schools do not have a spare teacher sitting around able to do supervision.
Non-catholics sit at their desks and do colouring in, excluded from the class for 2.5 hours every week.

There are also regular prayer services for start of years, masses, Christmas religious ceremonies.

For the weeks and months running up to communion, the class do communion preparation for hours every day. My daughter got through an impressive amount of books, while sitting at the back of the church during the rehearsals.

Its really really hard to be a non-Catholic in Ireland. A lot of the comments
in reply show that people seem to think "sure what harm can it do" and think it is odd to want to educate your children is line with your own ethical beliefs.

I have a lot of sympathy with the OP, but sadly no answers.

I am not a Catholic and I definitely don't find it hard to live in Ireland. I believe that it is as hard as one chooses or wants it to be. I chose a school for my child that is a very good school. It happens to be a Catholic school but that doesn't bother me or my son and it's a non-issue. There are loads of children of different religions (and plenty of atheists too) in the school and it's totally relaxed. There are so many things that are good about the school and religion isn't a big deal. As I said, it's as big a deal as you choose to make it and I don't see what the big deal is. There are far more things that I have to worry about like mortgages, banks, bankers, developers, planners etc. (none of which have anything to do with being Catholic, Church of Ireland, Atheism or whatever). Everybody is different but that is my take on it.

scifi77 · 05-03-2011 04:27PM

My niece went to her local ET school and for her it was a disaster. Luckily my sister and her partner got her into their other local school which happens to be a Catholic school. Its absolutely no big deal and she is in 3rd class now. She is loving it. I understand that some have big problems around religion, perhaps something to do with their own past or an experience they had themselves when they were in school many years ago. For many people I know, most of whom wouldn't be posting here, they simply don't see it as a big deal.

05-03-2011 09:05PM

bigbrotherfan wrote: »

I am not a Catholic and I definitely don't find it hard to live in Ireland. I believe that it is as hard as one chooses or wants it to be.

Likewise. My son went to an ET primary school, and since he was born I have never (and I mean never) encountered any difficulties whatsoever because of his non-Catholicism or mine. The last time I can recall having anything that I could describe as a difficulty because of my atheism was over 20 years ago - and that was an issue with someone's personal attitudes rather than a practical problem.

Daniel S · 05-03-2011 09:11PM

Theres loads of people who aren't catholic in my school. I'm one. In all honesty, our religion teachers are a joke.

Prisoner6409 · 06-03-2011 05:54PM

SpaceRocket wrote: »

Hello,

Wondering if anyone has been in my situation before and can offer advice.

I shall be moving house in a few weeks due to work. My son is four and shall be attending a local montessori untill Sept 2011, when he shall be due to start primary school, aged five.

I have a problem!

I am a staunch athiest/humanist, after being raised in a christian cult, and i refuse to send my child to a catholic school, or any religious school for that matter. This is an issue very important me. Sending him to a catholic school is simply out of the question, i cannot do it.

I have him enrolled for the Educate Together school in the area, however he is number 111 on the list, and the school shall only accept 60 students max.

What do I do???

As far as i see it, I have just one option.

# Wait another year for him to start in the educate together school, which would mean he would be 6 and 3 months starting junior infants.

I don't want him to feel out of place and being up to 2 years older than some of the students in his class would most likely do this!! Or would it?

Surely, in the year 2011, one has the right to send their child to a non religious school????!

Please please please someone help me i am at my tethers end stressing over this, it is keeping me awake at night!

Of course you have, just don't expect the taxpayer to build a new non-denominational school next door to where you choose to live. An awfull lot of parents are having trouble getting their children into a school never mind a school of their choice. My kids go to the local catholic school but even that school has plenty of muslim kids attending and it seems to me if they can balance this surely you can. Priorities mate, education First would be my instinct, it's not like they brainwash the kids, plenty of us who went to catholic school ended up choosing a different path when the time came.

scifi77 · 06-03-2011 09:01PM

Prisoner6409 wrote: »

Of course you have, just don't expect the taxpayer to build a new non-denominational school next door to where you choose to live. An awfull lot of parents are having trouble getting their children into a school never mind a school of their choice. My kids go to the local catholic school but even that school has plenty of muslim kids attending and it seems to me if they can balance this surely you can. Priorities mate, education First would be my instinct, it's not like they brainwash the kids, plenty of us who went to catholic school ended up choosing a different path when the time came.

Prisoner6409, while I may not have been quite so blunt, I have to agree with what you have said here. Being honest, the silent majority often don't articulate their feelings and those who are vocal are the ones who often appear to reflect the reality on the ground. I'm not saying the OP doesn't have reason to feel as s/he does but the system is as it is at the moment and people can't expect to have new schools opened or existing (excellent) schools disbanded overnight.

A friend of mine went to live in the middle east recently and felt that her kids were treated very much as second class citizens by the schools out there. She was turned away from most schools as schools out there are not at all as inclusive as schools in Ireland. There is a hugely strong religious influence in schools out there that my friend is frightened by. She is a lapsed Catholic and her kids went to a Catholic school here. She is returning to Ireland in the autumn and has said that in Ireland, we don't realise how lucky we are to have schools that are so inclusive.

Fozzydog3 · 06-03-2011 09:03PM

I went to a catholic school that was something just short of angelas ashes

but as a protestant they were very understanding i wouldnt worry about it OP

mumof2 · 06-03-2011 10:29PM

jd wrote: »

Steiner schools?
Another view point
http://www.dcscience.net/?p=3528

The grass isn't always greener on the other side of the fence!!

Thanks for that, very interesting reading...... great stuff.

D4RK ONION · 07-03-2011 01:34AM

I think this thread has run it's course. Thanks to all who helped the OP out with their question.

Thread Closed

Refuse to send my child to a catholic school

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