I HAVE to say that the Church of Ireland General Synod Board of Education was shocked by the content of the Education Bill when it was published earlier this year, and more significantly by its lack of content.
It bore little resemblance to the Government's own White Paper. It claimed enormous powers for the Minister. It threatened severe sanctions on those who did not conform. It virtually ignored the role of sponsoring communities which represents the great mass of people without whose support those schools could not exist, and who are normally acted for by patrons, trustees, and governors.
If enacted in its original terms, the Bill would in time have meant the end of church schools, whatever the denomination, and especially those belonging to minorities. It has taken great effort on our part, acting where appropriate with other bodies, to address these matters and have them dealt with. Our common concern was not with the defence of any particular ethos, but with the maintenance of structures within which a diversity of ethos could be sustained.
To give the Minister for Education her due, she has proposed amendments to the Bill which go a long way towards addressing our concerns.
Over the years, I have heard many well deserved tributes paid to successive governments and State agencies for their genuine concern for minorities in this State. That concern was motivated by a desire to give minorities equal rights and opportunities in the field of education and in other areas. The last year, however, has alerted us to the fact that we cannot take this for granted.
It would be very foolish in Ireland to ignore the fact that there are vocal elements determined to advance the progress of a secular materialist society. I am aware that there is a particular desired to be tolerant and sensitive towards the interests of minorities. But, in dealing with these vocal elements, I find there is very little that is real in their professed concern to allow us to survive. In effect, they are saying that our ethos will be preserved as a kind of memorial plaque on the wall of history, which says we were once here.
For our part, we have never sought, within the education system, any right to exclusivity in terms of employment of teachers or the enrolment of pupils. Indeed, the record shows the opposite to be the case. We have opted for, and value, "inclusivity". But we do assert the right of our schools, and other religious foundations, to maintain a balance which ensures the continuity of ethos and tradition.
The arguments made against this view are usually put forward by people claiming to speak for parental choice. But what of the rights of Church of Ireland parents, and other minority parents, to choose schools for their children where the environment reflects, and will continue to reflect, the values and traditions which those parents consider important. If this State opts for a version of "equality" which ignores the needs of minorities then it will be opting for a bogus equality, which in time will mean the swamping of minority communities and the dismantling of their institutions.
There are many examples in society where, in order to ensure equal opportunity for people, special accommodation has had to be made. I believe this principle applies to minorities also, and not just religious minorities. Recent attempts to facilitate the extension of the principle of equality appeared to me to be in danger of losing sight of the special needs of minorities. The significance of this for the cause of reconciliation on this island could not be overstated. My own personal commitment to minority interests has always been motivated by a desire to advance the cause of reconciliation and a just peace in Ireland.
If we, in this part of Ireland, unintentionally or otherwise, choose a road of indifference to the proper interests of minority communities, then we have no right to assert the interests of minorities elsewhere. The word sectarian has been used widely in recent debates, but I believe there is a kind of unintended sectarianism, arising from such indifference, which in the long run, because it is thoughtless, is the most dangerous.
It is of course not enough to make demands on those outside the Church of Ireland about the future of our schools. The past year has raised serious questions for those within also. What are we defending? What is a Church of Ireland primary school, or a Protestant secondary school?
The distinguished historian and educationalist, Dr Kenneth Milne, has properly criticised the current level of debate about education, in that it is too much about structures and not enough about content. He defined ethos as "the personality of the school; its moral values and how it expresses itself". He continued: "But it is a great mistake to think that ethos just happens. The character of an institution ... is formed according to certain criteria, and in a school that is unapologetically Christian there must be religious principles at work."
I BELIEVE his wise words challenge us to take seriously our responsibility to strengthen, as and when we can, those characteristics in our schools which distinguish them as Church of Ireland and Christian institutions. In the developing education scene in Ireland today, there are those who seek to marginalise, or even exclude, the churches from any active role or influence. But if you remove one set of values, for example Christian values, another value system will replace it.
As a church we must work very hard, in partnership with teachers, parents, and the wider community, to ensure that what is best in our schools is maintained and that which needs to be renewed is renewed. In this way we can equip our young people to make their own positive and worthwhile contribution to the building of a common national life.
