Sir, – In his letter (July 22nd) Ian D’Alton quoted Sir William Whitla’s plea for religiously mixed schools 100 ago. The plea was bound to fall on deaf ears at that time as shortly after the Free State was founded in 1922 the Catholic Primary School Managers Association had stated clearly that “the only satisfactory system of education for Catholics is one wherein Catholic children are taught in Catholic schools by Catholic teachers under Catholic control”.
In spite of recurring calls for more religiously mixed (multi-denominational) schools in Ireland, 88 per cent of national schools are still under Catholic control. – Yours, etc,
ÁINE HYLAND,
Emeritus professor of education,
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University College Cork.
Sir, – I refer to the letter from Ian D’Alton (July 22nd).
The whole ridiculous situation can be outlined in my own family set-up in Newcastle, Co Down. I had 11 siblings with over 20-odd nieces and nephews, all the finest of people. A third went to a Catholic school. Another third to the Protestant school and others to shared education school.
In what way did this help or bring together people?
Monty Python comes to mind. – Yours, etc,
PAUL DORAN,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22.
