Madam, - As a Catholic who has devoted a lifetime to teaching in English Catholic and Anglican schools, I want to express my wholehearted support for the four Protestant schools in Dublin that have begun legal proceedings against the Department of Education in support of their right to appoint teaching staff.
In 16 years as a secondary school principal I was involved along with governors in hundreds of staff appointments and it was always part of the selection process to question prospective staff on their commitment to the ethos of the schools concerned. It was always understood by employers and prospective employees that teachers in these and other schools were sympathetic and not antagonistic to their school's specific ethos.
I hope that all of those who support parental rights in respect of school choice will support Dublin's Protestants in defence of their schools. - Yours, etc,
ALAN WHELAN, Carnahone, Beaufort, Co Kerry.
Madam, - As a member of the Church Of Ireland, I am shocked at the latest undermining by the State of Protestants in the Republic. The Government's proposed redeployment to Protestant schools who of teachers do not adhere to the Protestant tradition epitomises the institutionalised sectarianism that Protestants in the South still encounter. For decades Protestant children have been turned away from Catholic schools (in the same manner as the new immigrants), and have to travel miles and sometimes counties to their nearest Protestant school.
Their parents expect that teachers uphold their school's ethos .
Protestant Confirmation classes take place in secondary school. Would Catholic parents be happy if Protestant teachers were preparing their children for these religious rites? Would Catholic schools and Catholic parents in the North be happy if the British Government redeployed Protestant teachers to teach in their Catholic schools and teach religion or history?
Is it the State's plan to no longer protect the ethos of minorities' schools, and eventually to eradicate Protestant schools? -Yours, etc,
SIOBHÁN NÍ GHIOLLA RUA, River Valley Heights, Swords, Co Dublin.
