churches and christian ethos in integrated schools 270109 · education in northern ireland. 2) the...
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M a c a u l a y A s s o c i a t e s
TonyMacaulay
January09
ChurchesandChristianEthosinIntegratedSchools
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ChurchesandChristianEthosinIntegratedSchools
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TableofContents
ExecutiveSummary................................................................................................ 3
1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 7
2 Background ...................................................................................................... 82.1 IntegratedEducationinNorthernIreland .................................................................................. 82.2 TheChurches,ChristianEthosandIntegratedEducation.................................................... 9
4 ResearchMethodology................................................................................... 19
5 IntegratedSchoolsandtheChurches.............................................................. 225.1ChurchesandIntegratedSchools ......................................................................................................225.2CatholicChurchinIreland....................................................................................................................305.3ChurchofIreland......................................................................................................................................375.4PresbyterianChurchinIreland..........................................................................................................395.5MethodistChurchinIreland................................................................................................................405.6OtherProtestantChurches...................................................................................................................415.7DifferentFaithCommunities ...............................................................................................................426 ChristianEthosinIntegratedSchools.............................................................. 436.1Statement.....................................................................................................................................................436.2Practice .........................................................................................................................................................49
7 ExamplesofPractice....................................................................................... 537.1 DrumraghIntegratedCollege .........................................................................................................537.2 MillenniumIntegratedPrimarySchool ......................................................................................567.3 LaganCollege .........................................................................................................................................587.4 MillStrandIntegratedPrimarySchool .......................................................................................627.5 OakgroveIntegratedPrimarySchool ..........................................................................................637.6 KilbroneyControlledIntegratedPrimarySchool ..................................................................67
8 Conclusions .................................................................................................... 70
9 RelevantIssuesforConsideration................................................................... 73
AppendixI:ResearchAdvisoryGroup................................................................... 74
AppendixII:SchoolsSurvey.................................................................................. 75
AppendixIII:Interviewees.................................................................................... 81
AppendixIV:TransformingSchoolsGovernance................................................... 82
Bibliography......................................................................................................... 83
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ExecutiveSummary
Introduction
ThisisthereportofaresearchstudyintotherelationshipbetweenthechurchesandintegratedschoolsandtheapproachtoChristianethoswithinintegratedschoolsinNorthernIreland.TheresearchwasinitiatedbyAllChildrenTogether(ACT),commissionedbytheNorthernIrelandCouncilforIntegratedEducation(NICIE)andfundedthroughtheIntegratedEducationFund(IEF).
IndependentresearchersMacaulayAssociatescarriedouttheresearchbetweenSeptember2007andJune2008.
Methodology
AcentralpartoftheresearchmethodologywasamajorsurveyofallintegratedschoolsinNorthernIreland.Themethodologyalsoincludeddeskresearchandsemistructuredinterviewswitharangeofstakeholders.
MainConclusions
Themainconclusionsoftheresearchareasfollows:RelationshipBetweenIntegratedSchoolsandChurches1) Todate,noneofthechurcheshasplayedaformalroleinthedevelopment
ofintegratededucationinNorthernIreland.
2) Thechurcheshavetendedtoprioritisetheprotectionofexistingschools(maintainedandcontrolledschools)inwhichtheyhavegovernance,oversupportfororinvolvementinthedevelopmentofintegratededucationinNorthernIreland.
3) CatholicclergyhavediscouragedCatholicparentsfromsendingtheirchildrentointegratedschools.Howeverinrecentyears,thereisevidenceofa“softening”toamore“pragmatic”approachtowardsCatholicparentschoosingintegratedschools.ThereisnowarangeofapproachesamongdifferentCatholicDiocesesanddifferentCatholicclergy.
4) Protestantclergyhaveexpressedalevelofsupportthatisconditionalonintegratedschoolsnotimpactingnegativelyoncontrolledschoolsonwhichtheyaretransferors.TheChurchofIreland,PresbyterianandMethodistChurcheswhilenotproactiveinthedevelopmentofintegratededucation,aresupportiveofintegratedschoolsaslongastheydonotimpactnegativelyoncontrolledschools.
5) Recently,thePresbyterianChurchhaspubliclyencourageditsministerstoplayafullpartwithinlocalintegratedschools.
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6) ThetransformingofcontrolledschoolshasbecomeacontentiousissueforProtestantChurcheswhoaretransferors,asnoCatholicschoolhasevertransformedandBishopsdonottakeuptheinvitationtoappointCatholicgovernorstotheplacesallocatedtothemwithintheBoardofGovernorsoftransformedControlledIntegratedSchools.
7) ThevastmajorityofintegratedschoolsinNorthernIrelandregardlinkswithchurchesasimportantandactivelytrytodevelopsuchlinkswithlocalchurches.
8) MostintegratedschoolshavearelationshipwiththeirlocalChurchofIreland(73%),RomanCatholic(68%)andPresbyterian(66%)Churches.
9) Themaintypesoflinkwithlocalchurchesarepupilvisitstochurches,conductofworshipinschoolandchurchservices,useofchurchpremisesforschooleventsandpreparationandreceptionforRomanCatholicsacraments.
10) Themajorityofintegratedschoolsarevisitedbyclergyatleastonceaterm.
11) Twofifthsofintegratedschoolshavetriedunsuccessfullytoestablisharelationshipwithalocalchurch.JustunderaquarterofintegratedschoolshavebeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithalocalRomanCatholicChurch.
12) Morethanhalfofintegratedschoolshavereceivedpublicsupportfromlocalclergy.
13) Justoverathirdofintegratedschoolshaveexperiencedpublicoppositionbyclergy,mainlyCatholicclergymakingpublicstatementsdiscouragingCatholicparentsfromchoosinganintegratedschoolratherthanaCatholicschool.
14) JustoverhalfofintegratedschoolsdonothavearelationshipwithfaithcommunitiesotherthanChristian.Amongthejustunderhalfofschoolsthatdohavearelationshipwithdifferentfaithcommunities,thistendstobedevelopedthroughparentsratherthanthroughformallinkswithreligiousleaders.
15) Thevastmajorityofintegratedschoolshaveneverdeclinedanapproachtodeveloplinksfromachurchorotherfaithgroup.
16) Thenatureoftherelationshipbetweenclergyandlocalintegratedschoolsisoftendependentonthepersonalviewsofbothprincipalsandlocalclergy.
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ChristianEthosinIntegratedSchools
17) ThemajorityofintegratedschoolsindicateintheirprospectusormissionstatementthattheyhaveaChristianethos.
18) Mostintegratedschoolsdescribetheirschool’sapproachtoreligionaseither“allfaithsandnone”orChristian.ThisreflectsanapproachthatisprimarilyChristian,butthatincludespeopleofdifferentfaithsaswellaspeopleofnoreligiousfaith.
19) TheapproachtoChristianethosofaparticularschoolisoftendependentonthepersonalviewsoftheprincipalandstaffoftheschool.
20) IntegratedschoolsarefacingthechallengeofhavingaChristianethoswithinanincreasinglydiversesocietyandinthecontextofanincreaseinsecularismandatheism.
21) ThemainwaysinwhichintegratedschoolsreflecttheirChristianethosisthroughAssemblies,theRECurriculumandpromotingvaluessuchasrespect,toleranceandcaring.
22) Themajorityoftheschoolshaveweeklyassembliesandoverhalfoftheschoolsincludeareligiousdimensioninallassemblies.ThetwomainreligiousoccasionscelebratedinthemajorityofintegratedschoolsareCarol/NativityServicesandHarvestServices.
23) SomeintegratedschoolshaveputconsiderableenergyandattentionintohowtheyworkouttheirChristianethosinpracticeinawaythatisinclusiveofallthechildrenattheschool.
OtherIssues
24) Mostintegratedschoolshavenothadareligiouseventintheschoolthatprovedtobecontentious.Whereeventshaveprovedcontentiousthishasusuallyinvolvedcomplaintsbyasmallnumberofparents.
25) Mostintegratedschoolseitherhavenopolicyoranopenpolicyonthedisplayofreligioussymbols.
26) ThereisarangeofmodelsofgoodpracticearoundrelationshipswithchurchesandChristianethoswithinintegratedschoolsthatotherschoolscanlearnfrom.
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RelevantIssuesforConsideration
Asaresultoftheissuesraisedinthisresearchthefollowingquestionsareofferedforfurtherconsideration:
1) IsitpossibleforthechurchesinNorthernIreland,alongsidetheirmainpriorityofprotectingtheirownschoolsectors,todevelopnewmodelsofsharedfaithschoolsasacontributiontowardspeaceandreconciliationinadividedsociety?Ifso,how?
2) WhatneedstohappentoencouragetheminorityofCatholicclergywhoarenotyetpreparedtoenteranintegratedschoolwithintheirparishtodevelopapositiverelationshipwiththeirlocalintegratedschool?
3) Howcanthefourmajorchurchesbesupportedtodevelopadialoguetodiscusscontentiousissuesregardingeducationsuchastransformation,theBainReport,integratingeducationandtheimpactoftheirapproachesoncommunityrelations?
4) Howcanintegratedschoolsdevelopmoreformallinkswiththelocalleadersofdifferentfaithcommunitiese.g.Muslim?
5) Whydomostintegratedschoolseitherhavenopolicyoranopenpolicyonthedisplayofreligioussymbols?
6) IsthereaneedformorethanoneintegratedschoolinNorthernIrelandtohaveafulltimechaplaincy?
7) HowcanintegratedschoolsbesupportedtodeveloptheirChristianand“allfaithsandnone”ethosinpractice?
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1 Introduction
Thisisthereportofaresearchstudyintotherelationshipbetweenthe
churchesandintegratedschoolsandtheapproachtoChristianethos
withinintegratedschoolsinNorthernIreland.
TheresearchwasinitiatedbyAllChildrenTogether(ACT),commissioned
bytheNorthernIrelandCouncilforIntegratedEducation(NICIE)and
fundedthroughtheIntegratedEducationFund(IEF).
IndependentresearchersMacaulayAssociatescarriedouttheresearch
betweenSeptember2007andJune2008.Itfollowedonfromaninitial
unpublishedpartialresearchstudyintothesameissuescarriedoutby
GraceFraserbetween2002‐20051.
Thereportincludes:
• Anexecutivesummaryofthemainfindings
• Anexplanationofthebackgroundtotheresearch
• Adescriptionoftheresearchmethodology
• Apresentationofthemainfindingsoftheresearch
• AselectionofexamplesofpracticeofChristianethos
• Asetofmainconclusions
• Asetofassociatedappendices
• Abibliography
1IllhealthpreventedGraceFraserfromcompletingtheresearchproject.MacaulayAssociatesisgratefultoGraceforsharingherfindingsforthisstudy.
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2 Background
2.1 IntegratedEducationinNorthernIreland
ThecampaigningparentgroupAllChildrenTogether(ACT)establishedthefirstintegratedschool,LaganCollege,inBelfastin1981.Theystate:
‘Wehadworkedforelevenyears,lobbyingthechurches,theeducationalestablishmentandthepoliticalpartiestoconsidersettingupsharedChristianschoolsasaforceforreconciliationinatroubledprovince.Failingtomoveanyoftheseofficialbodies,weourselvesgraspedthenettleand,againstalltheodds,establishedLaganCollege.ACTbelievedthatiftheschoolwassuccessfulacademicallyandwasreligiouslyandsociallyinclusiveandwitharespectful,caringChristianethos,thatitwouldbeinfectious.Indeeditwas.TodayitisthemostoversubscribedschoolintheBelfastarea….’
Therearenow62IntegratedSchoolsacrossNorthernIreland:
• 21IntegratedSecondLevelColleges• 41IntegratedPrimarySchools• Morethan19IntegratedNurserySchools,mostofwhichare
linkedtoPrimarySchools
TheNorthernIrelandCouncilforIntegratedEducation(NICIE)wasestablishedin1987,toco‐ordinateeffortstodevelopIntegratedEducationandtoassistparentgroupsinopeningnewintegratedschoolsinNorthernIreland.
NICIEcurrentlydefinesintegratededucationas:
‘Educationtogetherinschoolofpupilsdrawninapproximatelyequalnumbersfromthetwomajortraditionswiththeaimofprovidingforthemaneffectiveeducationthatgivesequalrecognitiontoandpromotesequalexpressionofthetwomajortraditions.TheintegratedschoolisessentiallyChristianincharacter,democraticandopeninproceduresandpromotestheworthandselfesteemofallindividualswithintheschoolcommunity.Theschoolasaninstitutionseekstodevelopmutualrespectandconsiderationofotherinstitutionswithintheeducationalcommunity.Itscoreaimistoprovidethechildwithacaringselffulfillingeducationalexperiencewhichwillenablehim/hertobecomeafulfilledandcaringadult’.
(NICIEStatementofPrinciples)
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Theestablishmentof integrated schoolshasbeenaparent led initiativerather than a state led programme. The first policy introduced atgovernment level was Clause 64 of the Education Reform (NorthernIreland) Order 1989 which placed a duty on the State in relation tointegratededucationforthefirsttime.Itstated:‘It shall be the duty of the Department to encourage and facilitate thedevelopmentof integratededucation,thatistosaytheeducationtogetheratschoolofProtestantandRomanCatholicpupils’.
TheAgreementsignedin1998alsoincludedacommitment‘tofacilitateandencourageintegratededucation…’
2.2 TheChurches,ChristianEthosandIntegratedEducation
Theprimaryfocusofthisresearchhasbeentomapthecurrentrelationshipsbetweenthechurchesandintegratedschools,ratherthantoanalysethehistoricalrootsoftheserelationships.
However,itisimportanttoprovideabriefhistoryofrelationshipsbetweentheintegratedschoolsandthechurchestoplacethecurrentsituationincontext.Thissectionbrieflyoutlinesrelationshipsbetweenthechurchesandintegratedschoolsoverthepast25years.Themainsectionsofthereportwillfocusoncurrentrelationshipsbasedonthefieldresearchcarriedoutin2007/2008.
Asalreadystated,thedevelopmentofintegratededucationinNorthernIrelandhasbeenaparentledinitiative.Ithasnotbeenachurchledinitiative.Howeverthefirstparentgroupcampaigningforintegratededucation,AllChildrenTogether,statedthattheyhadworkedtoencouragethedevelopmentof‘sharedschoolsacceptabletoallreligiousculturesinwhichthechurcheswouldprovidereligiouseducationandpastoralcare.’(C.Linehan,M.Kennedy,SrAnna,1993)
TheACTMovementwasformedintheearly1970’sbyCatholicparentswhosechildrenwereattendingnon‐Catholicschools.AstheRomanCatholicChurchrefusedtohelpwithdenominationalinstructionforthesechildren,parentscametogethertorunCatechismclasses.InsomeDioceses,theSacramentofConfirmationwaswithheldfromchildren.Inthelate1970’sthispolicychangedbuttheChurchstillrefusedtoallowCatholicchildrenattendingnon‐Catholicschoolstobeconfirmedwithotherchildrenoftheirparishandarrangedforthemtobeconfirmedinseparateconfirmationservices.ACTlatercommented:
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‘ThesufferingthesesanctionshavecausedtoCatholicparentsinthepast,andespeciallytoparentsofinterchurchfamilies,justcannotbeunderestimated.’(ACT,1998)Inthe1970’sIrishCatholicleadersstatedthatCatholicparentshadadutytosendtheirchildrentoCatholicschools:‘ThewholequestionwasdebatedbytheSecondVaticanCouncilwhichaffirmedthedutyofCatholicstosendtheirchildrentoCatholicschools,whenandwherethisispossible’(CardinalWilliamConway,1970)
ThisprincipleappearstohavebeenthemajorbarriertorelationshipsbetweenintegratedschoolsandtheIrishCatholicChurchoverthepast25years.Thishasoftenbeenexpressedasoppositiontointegratedschools.
‘CardinalConway(1971)statedthatasamatterofreligiousprinciple,“CatholicchildrenoughttobeeducatedinCatholicschoolswherethespecificallyCatholicethosisavailabletothem”.TheCatholicChurchhasneverwaveredfromthisposition,believingthatthisethosisbestsustainedbyastrongrelationshipbetweenhome,schoolandparish’.(Ellis,2006)
Throughoutthe1970’sACTcampaignedforCatholicchildrenattendingnon‐Catholicschoolstobetreatedinthesamewayasotherchildrenoftheirparish.ThecampaignincludeddiscussionswithIrishCatholicleaders,drawinguponthedifferentpracticesoftheRomanCatholicChurchinothercountriesandatonestageincludedanappealtotheVatican2.DifferentinterpretationsofVaticanIIandCanonLawhaveresultedindifferentapproachesindifferentcountriesandindifferentDioceseswithinIrelandovertheyears.Asfarbackasthe1960’sCardinalRitterhadstated:‘TheCatholicschoolisnotandmustnotbetheonlyconcernoftheChurch.MostoftheCatholicchildrenandstudentsintheworldareinStateschoolsandmustbeinfacttheobjectofthesolicitudeoftheChurch,thefamily,andparticularlyoftheteachersintheseschoolsforreligiouseducation…OurdocumentonChristianeducationmustemphasisethatCatholicschoolsdonotexisttoservenarrowsectarianpurposes,nortoprotecttheselfishinterestsoftheChurch…Catholicschoolsareandoftheirverynaturemustbeofsubstantialbenefittotheentirecommunitywheretheyserveandtosocietyitself.Otherwisetheywouldstandselfcondemnedandbeunworthy
2(SeeLinehan,C.(2003).AllChildrenTogether:ThestruggleofCatholicparentstohavetheirchildreneducatedwithProtestantchildreninNorthernIreland.MPhilDissertation,IrishSchoolofEcumenics.)
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ofthetitle“Catholic”’.(CardinalERitter,ArchbishopofStLouis(Missouri),1964)The relevant Canon Law states: ‘…Catholicparentshavealsothedutyandtherighttochoosethosemeansandinstituteswhich,intheirlocalcircumstances,canbestpromotethecatholiceducationoftheirchildren…
Parentsmusthavearealfreedomintheirchoiceofschools…
Parentsaretosendtheirchildrentothoseschoolswhichwillprovidefortheircatholiceducation.Iftheycannotdothis,theyareboundtoensurethepropercatholiceducationoftheirchildrenoutsidetheschool.‘(TheCodeofCanonLaw,1983)
Bythe1990’s,asthenumberofintegratedschoolscontinuedtoincrease,therewasadiscernableshiftintonefromtheIrishCatholicChurchawayfromdirectoppositiontointegratededucationandtowardsanemphasisontherightofparentstochoose,andthevalueofchoosingaCatholicschool.
‘IntegratededucationsupportershavewelcomedcommentsbythenewArchbishopofArmaghthatparentssendingtheirchildrentononCatholicschoolswouldnotbepenalised.DrSeanBrady…saidherespectedtherightofpeopletosendtheirchildren”totheschooloftheirchoice,butIalsoknowthevalueofCatholicschools”.Parentsfavouringintegratededucationwouldnotface“sanctions”,hesaid.Thearchbishop’sremarksfollowtheclaimbyMsgrDenisFaulthatpeoplerefusingtosendtheirchildrentoCatholicschoolswereinbreachofCanonLaw.3’('EducationCommentsWelcomed'IrishNews,1996)Howeverthedevelopmentoftransformingcontrolledintegratedschools4didnotgainthesupportofCatholicBishops,asexemplifiedbythisarticle:‘SomeCountyDowncontrolledschoolssuchasBangorCentralPrimaryandPrioryCollegearechangingfrommostlyProtestanttobecomeintegrated.TheruleisthattwoofthefourProtestantclergyontheBoardsofGovernorsshouldbereplacedbyCatholics.ButtheSouthEasternBoardranintoproblemswhentheCatholicBishopofDownandConnorrefusedtonominateanyone…AspokesmanfortheBishopsaystheChurchisveryhappywithCatholicschoolsandiswillingtopassupthechancetohaveinfluenceon
4SeeAppendixIVfortheDepartmentofEducationNIgovernancearrangementsforcontrolledintegratedschools
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transformedschools.Itcan’tbeseentobeformallyassociatedwithintegratedschoolswhichareincompetitionwiththem.’(Taggart,1999)TheimpactofthispolicyandthepolicythatnoCatholicschoolshouldtransformtointegratedstatushadaknockoneffectintheProtestantChurcheswhobegantocommentontransformationthat“thelosswasalloneway”.‘…todate,allofthetransformationschoolshavebeenControlledschoolswithpredominantlyProtestantenrolments.TheauthoritiesofCatholicschoolsareadamantlyopposedtotheprincipleoftransformation,onthegroundsthatitabrogatestherightsoftrustees.Quiteapartfromthepoliticalproblemsthatmight,atsomepoint,emerge,giventhatallthechangehasoccurredwithinonesector,thissituationhasthepotentialtodivertdiscussionawayfromtheoriginalgoal(topromoteintegration)towardsadebateoverothermorecontentiousissues.Education,likeotherareasoflifeinNorthernIreland,hasbeenplaguedby‘zerosum’thinking,sothereisanissueonhowdiscussionsonthegoalofamoreintegratededucationsystemmighttakeplacewithoutfallingintothistrap.’(IntegratedEducationInNorthernIreland,Participation,ProfileandPerformancebyTonyGallagher,AlanSmith,AlisonMontgomery,2003)
In1978LordDunleathhadintroducedintotheHouseofLordsanActthatwouldhaveenabledCatholicorProtestantchurchrepresentativesonschoolBoardstoshareplaceswitheachotherandwithparentstoallowintegratedschoolstodevelopfromexistingschools.However,noneofthechurchesinvokedtheAct,andasaresultnewintegratedschoolswereestablishedbyparentsgroups.However,in1998theTransferorRepresentatives’Council(TRC)5stated:‘Fromtheperiodbeforethe“DunleathAct”of1978eachoftheTransferorchurchesexpresseditswillingnesstoparticipateinagreedexperimentstoestablishintegratedschoolsontheprovisothattheRomanCatholicChurch,parentsandAreaBoardswereinvolved.ThebasisofsuchconsentwasnotforthcomingfromtheRomanCatholicauthorities.’(TransferorRepresentativesCouncil,1998)Inthe1970’sand1980’stheProtestantchurchesweregenerallywelcomingtothe‘experiment’ofintegratededucation:‘…theshockoftheviolenceoftheearly1970sdidcausesometorethinktheirpositionwithregardtoeducation.WithintheProtestantchurchestherebegansomepositivemovement.ForexampletheChurchofIreland
5TheTRCcomprisesthoseTransferorRepresentativesservingonthefivelocaleducationboardstogetherwithrepresentativesfromtheBoardsofEducationoftheChurchofIreland,thePresbyterianChurchinIrelandandtheMethodistChurchinIreland.
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GeneralSynodof1970passedaresolutionwhichstated“Wewouldwelcome,forthegoodofthechildreninourcommunity,anagreedexperimentwithintheVoluntaryandStatesystemsofeducation,towardsencouragingintegrationineducation,solongasalldenominationalinterestsarerespected”.Furtherpositivestatementsofsupportfollowedin1975and1978’(Ellis,2006)
However,althoughthesepublicstatementsweresupportive,theProtestantchurchesdidnotbecomeproactivelyinvolvedindevelopingintegratedschools.AnexamplefromtheMinutesofthe1983GeneralAssemblyofthePresbyterianChurchdemonstratesthis:‘TheModerator,DrGardner,havingbeeninvitedtobecomeasponsorforLaganCollege,askedtheBoardforguidanceinthematter.WhileitwasrealisedthatLaganCollegewasintegratedinsofarasthepupilsandstaffweredrawnfromalldenomination,itwasnotintegratedtotheextentthattheChurches,ProtestantandCatholic,hadbeeninvitedofficiallytoshareinmanagement.Howeversincetheprojectwasofthenatureofanexperimentinintegratededucationthefollowingadvicewasgiven:“TheBoardofEducationofourChurch,havingdiscussedtherequestoftheLaganCollegethatyouagreetobecomeaPatron,feelthat,sincethisisapersonalmatternotaffectingtheChurchdirectlyandsincenoChurchmonieswillbeinvolved,theyseenogoodreasonwhyyoushouldnotbecomeaPatronoftheCollege,shouldyouwishtodoso.”(PresbyterianChurchinIrelandStateEducationCommittee,1983)Bythe1990s,asthenumberofintegratedschoolshadgrown,theProtestantchurchesincreasinglyexpressedconcernsaboutintegratedschoolsthreateningtheviabilityofneighbouringcontrolledschoolsinwhichtheyweretransferorsontheBoardsofGovernors.TheTransferorRepresentatives’Councilreferredto:‘Thepreferentialtreatmentaccordedtotheintegratedsector’and‘…theinsensitivesitingofgrantmaintainedintegratedschoolswithinthecatchmentareasofcontrolledschoolsandaremainingChurchofIrelandMaintainedSchool.’(TransferorRepresentativesCouncil,1998)ExamplesofcommentsfromtheChurchofIrelandduringthisperiodare:‘…itmustberecognisedthattherearesomeareaswheretheopeningofanintegratedschoolwouldleadtotheclosingofanexistingcontrolledschool…converselythechurchrecognisesthattheremaybeoneortwoareasinwhichtheonlywaytoretainaschoolforProtestantchildrentoattend,mayinvolveoptingoutofacontrolledschoolinordertoestablishacontrolledintegratedschool.’(McKelvey,1990)
‘TheassumptionthatintegratedschoolswouldsolvethesectarianismprobleminNorthernIrelandwasafalseone,aspeakertoldtheChurchofIrelandGeneralSynodinDublinyesterday.CanonHoustonMcKelvey,
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presentingthechurch’sEducationBoardreport,saidtherealityofresidentialsegregationintheNorthhadtobeacknowledged.InmanypartsofNorthernIrelandpupilscouldnotbeintegratedwithoutamassivedailybussingoperation,hesaid.’(McGarry,1999)
HowevertherewereclearlydifferencesofopiniononthesubjectwithintheChurch:
‘TheexistenceofIntegratedSchoolsseemstobetoleratedreluctantlyandthroughouttheBoard’s(ChurchofIrelandBoardofEducation)reportsandsubmissiontotheDepartmentofEducationthereisabarelyconcealedhostileundertoneespeciallytowardsgrantmaintainedintegratedschools…TherearefrequentcomplaintsintheBoard’sreportsaboutboththeprivilegedtreatmentandpositivediscriminationaccordedtointegratedschools…’(Scarlett,April1999)
ThePresbyterianChurchadoptedasimilarapproach.ExamplesofcommentsfromtheStateEducationCommitteeofthePresbyterianChurchinIrelandinthe1990’sareshownbelow:
“Wewelcomedgrantmaintainedintegratedstatusbuthopedthatthiswouldnotleadtoseriousdisadvantagetoothersecondaryschools”(1990)
“Concernhasbeenexpressedthatthedevelopmentofsomeexistingschoolshasbeenimpededbytheallocationoffundstoneighbouringintegratedschools.TheprincipleoffairnessshouldapplyacrosstheBoardandanyperceivedinequalitiesoughttobemonitoredandreported”(1991)“Legislationhasweakenedthechurchposition.ThusthereisnoplaceasofrightfortheChurchinthegovernmentofgrantmaintainedintegratedschools”(1995)‘ApositionpaperonIntegratedEducationisprintedbelow.PreparedasaresultofaninitiativefromourownCommitteeitwasunanimouslyendorsedbyourownBoard,attractedthesupportofoursisterChurches’BoardsofEducationandhasbeenlodgedwiththeMinister.Alreadyhehassaidthatheisengagedinarethinkontheimplementationofgovernmentpolicywithrespecttointegratedschools.’(PresbyterianChurchStateEducationCommittee,1996)‘Theassumptionhasbeenmadeandreceivedimmensepoliticalandfinancialsupportfromthegovernmentthatdenominationallyintegratededucationwillmakeamajorcontributiontotheresolutionoftheproblemsofacommunitywhichiscomposedoftwomajorreligioustraditions.TheChurchesarefirmlyoftheconvictionthatschoolsalonecannotdeliverthisgoalduetocertainbasicfactse.g.(i)integratededucationcannotbedeliveredinmanyofthemajorhousingareas,and(ii)itisconscientiouslyopposedbytheRomanCatholicChurchwhichhasstatedandadherestoitspolicyoneducation…
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TheChurchesremainextremelysensitivetotheirexclusion–bylawfromthemanagementofintegratedschoolsandtothereductionoffiftypercentoftheirrepresentationonschoolboardsofgovernorsconsequenttoanycontrolledschooloptingforcontrolledintegratedstatus…Goodschoolsinareaswhichintegratedschoolshavebeenestablishedareaffectedintwoways,(i)thereductionofenrolmentwithattendantcontractionofresources,and(ii)theremovalfromtheirparents’groupsoftheverypeoplewhowouldsupporteducationformutualunderstanding…TheChurches’preferredmodelofanintegratedschoolisthatofacontrolledintegratedandtheChurchesrecommendthatwhereverpossibletheDepartment,theAreaBoardsandtheChurchesconsultastothepossibilityofgrowinganintegratedschoolfromanexistingcontrolledschoolratherthanundertakeunnecessaryadditionalpublicexpenditure’(PresbyterianChurchStateEducationCommittee,1996)Howeverby1999thereisevidenceofanimprovingrelationshipbetweenthePresbyterianChurchandtheintegratedsector:
‘TalkshavetakenplacebetweentheTransferorsRepresentativesCouncilandarepresentativeofNICIE.TheTRCwaspleasedtolearntheimportanceNICIEplacesonaChristianethosinschoolsanddiscussionsareongoingaboutformingacloseworkingrelationship…
Bothbodieshaveagreedtoassistinbuildingeffectiverelationshipsbetweenthelocalministerandtheintegratedschoolclosetoacongregation’.
TheviewoftheMethodistChurchinIrelandfollowsasimilarpatterntotheChurchofIrelandandPresbyterianChurches,althoughtheconcernsareexpressedlessstrongly.Initiallyverypositivecommentswelcomingintegratededucationchangetostatementsofconcernoverthedefinitionofintegrationandconcernsoverintegratedschoolsdivertingfundingfromexistingschools.StatementsfromtheReportsandAgendaoftheMethodistConferencedemonstratethis:
‘DuringtheyearmembersoftheexecutivevisitedtheCollege(Lagan)andwerewarmlyreceivedbytheChairmanoftheBoardofGovernors,theHeadmistressandmembersofstaff.TheCollegewasassuredoftheinterestandsupportoftheMethodistChurch.’(MethodistChurchBoardofEducationNorthernExecutive,1985)
‘Appreciationwasexpressedofthestresslaidonintegratededucation...’(1989)
‘Someteachersandgovernorsinthecontrolledsectorareoftheopinionthattheintegratedschoolsarebetterfundedthananyothersector...
Theongoingreviewofthestatutoryrecognitionofintegratedstatusisbeingcloselymonitored.TheMinisterhasnowpresentedguidelinesconcerningthewayforwardandmanyquestionshavetobeanswered.NotleastoftheseisthecriteriawhichtheDepartmentiswillingtoaccepttodeterminewhatlegallyconstitutes“integratedstatus”.TheChurchhas
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alwayswelcomedintegratedstatusifitisthewilloftheparentssotodetermine...Howeveritisimportanttodrawadistinctionbetweenchoosingthiscourseofactiontoachieveintegrationandnotjustasawayofachievingbetterfinancialallocation.Anotherfactorwhichgivescauseforconcernisthatthereisanumberofschoolswhichinpracticeareintegratedbutbecausetheydonotmeetthestatutorycriteriacannotbetermedunderthelawintegrated.’(1997)
Todate,noneofthechurcheshaveplayedaformalroleinthedevelopmentofintegratededucationinNorthernIreland.Thechurcheshavetendedtoprioritisetheprotectionofexistingschoolsoverwhichtheyhavegovernance,oversupportfororinvolvementinthedevelopmentofintegratededucation.CatholicclergyhaveexpressedclearoppositiontoCatholicparentssendingtheirchildrentointegratedschoolswhileProtestantclergyhaveexpressedalevelofsupportthatisconditionalonintegratedschoolsnotimpactingnegativelyonschoolsonwhichtheyaretransferors.Previousresearchhascommentedonthis:‘Oncethefirstschoolshadbeenestablishedtheattitudeshiftedfromonewhichcouldhavebeencharacterisedas'wedon'twantit,butitwon'thappenanyway'toonewhichsawtheintegratedschoolmovementasunwelcomebuttoosmalltohavetoworryabout.Therehasalsobeenaproblemforthe'establishment'institutionsinthatalthoughtheymaydisapproveofintegratedschoolsithasbeenquitedifficulttofocusopposition.Itishardtoobjecttoparents'wishtoinfluencetheirchildren'seducationortocondemnanorganisationwhichhasasoneofitscentralaimsthedesiretoimprovecommunityrelationsandendsectarianviolence.Thisambivalenceisclearlyseenintheattitudeofthechurches,particularlytheRomanCatholicchurch,whichontheonehandsupportstherightofparentstochoosetheappropriateeducationfortheirchildrenbutontheotherseekstoensurethatallCatholicchildrenareeducatedinCatholicschools.’(ValerieMorgan,SeamusDunn,EdCairns,GraceFraser,1999)‘GiventhatbothChristiantraditionshadeffectivelyovertheyearsdevelopedtheirownsectorswithvariousprotectionsandstatefinancialsupport,itwasperhapsinevitablethattheCatholicandProtestantchurchestendedtoadoptdefensivepositionsregardingtheideaofsharedschooling’.(Ellis,2006)ThissituationisnotwhatACThadoriginallyenvisaged:
‘Inour1976policydocumententitledACTonSharedSchools,weenvisagedapartnershipbetweentheschoolandsupportiveclergyintheenhancingofreligiouseducation,pastoralcareandsharedworship.Webelievethatthe
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keyareaforthechurchesinintegratedschoolsisinstrengtheningtheirwholeChristianethos.Thisisstillourview.’(C.Linehan,M.Kennedy,SrAnna,1993)
ThefoundersoftheintegratedmovementmadeanearlydecisiontodevelopaclearChristianethoswithinintegratedschools: ‘TheACTMovementinthinkingaboutintegration,spentlonghoursontheissueof“ethos”…thereweretwopossibleavenueswhichthemovementcouldtake:1. Recognisethestrengthsandseparateidentitiesofexistingschoolswhich
have,almostall,stronglinkswiththechurches,andcreateacompletelysecularsystemwithnochurchinvolvementandnoreligiousinputtothecurriculum.
2. Recognisethestrengthsandidentitiesofexistingschoolswhichhave,almostall,stronglinkswiththechurches,andcreateacompletelynewsystemofschoolswithnodirectchurchinvolvement,butwithastrongChristianethosandatmosphereandanecumenicalapproachtoreligiouseducation.
…ACTandthosepioneeringthinkingatthattimewerenotconvincedthattheroutetotakewasthefirstone,secularschools…Thesecondoptionwaschosen…butchosennotasinanywayinferiorbutasmorelikelytobeeffective.’(Brown,2000) Asthenumberofintegratedschoolsgrewsodidthenumberandrangeofparents,governors,principalsandteachers.ThishasresultedinanongoingdebateoverthepolicyandpracticeofChristianethoswithintheschools:‘Thedebateovertheextenttowhichtheschoolsshouldbe'Christian'intheirethosandhowthisshouldaffecttheattitudetotheparticipationofteachers,parentsandchildrenofotherreligiousbackgroundsornoneis…producingarangeofstrongopinions.ThisclearlyechoessomeofthedebatescurrentlysurfacinginBritainabouttheplaceofreligiouseducationinmultiethnicschools.’(ValerieMorgan,SeamusDunn,EdCairns,GraceFraser,1999)Having briefly outlined the historical context of relationships with thechurches and Christian ethoswithin integrated schools, this reportwillnowpresentthefindingsoftheresearchtohighlightthecurrentsituationin2007/2008.
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3 TermsofReference
Thetermsofreferenceoftheresearchstudywereasfollows:
AimsoftheResearch
Thereweretwomainaimsoftheresearch:
1) Theprimaryaimoftheresearchwastoassessthecurrentroleofthe
churcheswithregardtointegratedschoolsinNorthernIreland
2) Thesecondaryaimoftheresearchwastoexaminepracticeregarding
ChristianethoswithinintegratedschoolsinNorthernIreland
ObjectivesoftheResearch
Theresearchhadfiveobjectives:
1) Tosurveyandanalysethenatureoftherelationshipbetweenthefour
mainchurchesandtheintegratedsectorinattitudinalterms
2) Tosurveyandanalyse thenatureof this relationshipat the levelof
existingpracticewithintheintegratedsector
3) Toformulateapictureofhowindividualschools interpretChristian
ethosinpractice(includingthecommoncoreREcurriculum)
4) To identify models of good practice in church/integrated school
relations
5) Tohighlightrelevantissuesforintegratededucationinthecontextof
religious, political, educational and policy changes in Northern
Ireland
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4 ResearchMethodology
The agreed methodology for achieving the aims and objectives of the
researchwithintheresourcesavailablewasasfollows:
(a)InitialMeetings
A series of initialmeetings took place between the researcher and the
research commissioners todiscuss thebackground to the research, the
primary focus, the proposedmethodology, to gather initial information
anddetailsregardingstakeholders,andtoagreethedatesforthevarious
meetings.
(b)ResearchAdvisoryGroup
A Research Advisory Group of key stakeholders was established to
supportandadvisetheresearch.Thegroupmetat thebeginningof the
researchtocommentonthemethodologyandthemainsurveytooland
again towards the end of the study to discuss the draft report and
findings. The members of the Research Advisory Group are listed in
AppendixI.
(c) DeskResearch
The researcher carried out a review of relevant research and
background information including relevant policies and reports
(government, education, schools and churches) existing research,
archive material (e.g. reports and press cuttings), websites and other
secondarysources
AlistofthemainsourcesofinformationisintheBibliography.
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(c) SchoolsSurvey
A central part of the researchmethodologywas amajor survey of all
integrated schools in Northern Ireland. The survey (See Appendix II)
asked the schools a series of questions about their relationships with
churchesandtheirapproachtoChristianethoswithintheschool.
Followingalettertoallschoolsexplainingthebackgroundandpurpose
of the research, the survey was circulated by email to all 62 existing
integrated schools in October 2007. The email was then followed up
withaseriesoftelephonecalls,tomaximisetheresponserate.Surveys
were either returned by post, fax or email or completed through a
telephoneinterview.
By theendofFebruary2008,a totalof44schools6hadcompleted the
survey,aresponserateof71%7.
(d) KeyStakeholderInterviews
Another key aspect of the methodology was a series of 36 semi‐
structured interviews carried out with a sample of key stakeholders
including representatives of the four main churches, ACT, NICIE, the
Catholic Council for Maintained Schools (CCMS), the Transferors’
RepresentativeCouncil(TRC)andtheDepartmentofEducation.
Interviews were also carried out with principals, teachers, parents,
governors,localclergyandstudentsinasampleofintegratedschools(4
Grant Maintained Integrated Primary Schools, 2 Grant Maintained
Integrated Colleges, 2 Controlled Integrated Primary Schools and 1
ControlledIntegratedCollege).
6Twoschoolsdeclinedtoparticipateinthesurveyandsixteenschoolsdidnotrespondtothevariousletters,emailsandtelephonerequests.7Thissamplesizegivesan8%marginoferrorfora95%confidencelevel.
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Theinterviewsexploredtherelationshipbetweenthechurchesandthe
schoolsand thepracticeofChristianethoswithin schools.A listof the
intervieweesisinAppendixIII.
An opportunity to contribute comments to the research was also
providedontheNICIEwebsite.
(e)Report
A draft research report was presented for discussion and then a final
draftofthereportwascompleted.
(f)LaunchSeminar
ThefinalreportwaslaunchedataseminarinJanuary2009attendedby
arangeofkeystakeholdersincludingthosewhohadparticipatedinthe
research.Thepurposeoftheseminarwastodiscussthefindingsofthe
research, to discuss the main issues for consideration and to identify
practical recommendations for the future in light of the research
findings.
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5 IntegratedSchoolsandtheChurches
5.1ChurchesandIntegratedSchools
(a)LinkswithChurches
Whenschoolswereaskedthequestion‘Howimportantarelinkswithlocalchurchesforyourschool?’
• 50%ofrespondentssaid‘VeryImportant’.
• 43%ofrespondentssaid‘Important’.
• 7%ofrespondentssaid‘Unimportant’.
• Noneoftherespondentssaid‘VeryUnimportant’.
Whenschoolswereaskedthequestion‘Doesyourschoolactivelytrytodeveloplinkswithlocalchurches?
• 91%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’
• 9%ofrespondentssaid‘No”Whenaskedhowtheydevelopedtheirlinkswithchurches,theschoolsindicatedthattheycontactedlocalclergybyletter,telephone,emailandonetoonemeetingsandthroughexistingpersonalcontactsofstaffmemberswhoarealsomembersoflocalchurches.Theschoolsindicatedthattheydevelopedlinksthroughactivitiessuchas:
• Invitationstospeakatassemblies• Invitationstospecialeventsintheschool• Useofchurchesforschoolreligiousservices• Visitstochurches
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Schoolswereaskedthequestion‘Withwhichchurchesdoesyourschoolhavearelationship?’InrelationtothefourlargerchurchesinNorthernIrelandtheresponseswere:
• ChurchofIreland: 73%• RomanCatholic8: 68%• Presbyterian: 66%• Methodist: 41%
25%ofschoolshadarelationshipwithaBaptistChurch.
7%ofschoolsansweredthattheyhadarelationshipwith‘alllocalchurches’andoneschoolsaidtheyhadarelationshipwithnochurches.
Relationshipswithotherchurches/faithcommunitiesmentionedbyasmallnumberofschoolswere:
• ElimPentecostal(2schools)• Brethren(2schools)• ChurchoftheNazarene(1school)• NonSubscribingPresbyterian(1school)• Mormon(1school)• Jehovah’sWitness(1school)• SalvationArmy(1school)• GatewayChurch(1school)
(b)ClergyVisitsWhenasked‘Howoftendoclergyfromeachofthesechurchesvisityourschool?59%ofrespondentssaidclergyvisitedtheirschoolatleastonceaterm.Themainresponseswere:
• Atleastonceaweek:16%• Onceamonth:16%• Onceaterm:27%• Occasionally:16%• Never:14%• RomanCatholicPriestdoesnotvisit:14%
8Theuseoftheterms‘Catholic’and‘RomanCatholic’arecontentiousinNorthernIreland.Inthisreport‘RomanCatholic’isusedtorefertothechurchinstitutionandtheterm‘Catholic’isusedtorefertothecommunityorindividualsofthistradition.Inquotesfrominterviewsandsurveysthetermusedinthereportisthesametermthatwasusedbytherespondentorinterviewee.
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(c)RoleofChurchesWhenschoolswereaskedwhichroleslocalchurchesplayintheirschool,theresponseswereasfollows:
• Pupilvisitstochurches:80%• Conductof/participationinworshipinschoole.g.inassemblies:77%
• Conductof/participationinworshipinchurchservices(mainly
Christmas,HarvestandRomanCatholicSacramentalServices):73%
• Useofchurchpremisesforschoolevents:66%
• Preparationforsacraments:66%
• Informalcontactwithstaff:52%
• Involvementofchurchstaffotherthanclergy(e.g.youthworkers):48%
• Pastoralrole:32%
• TeachingofRE/supportforREteachers:34%
• Formalchaplaincyrole:20%
• BoardofGovernors:16%(d)UnsuccessfulAttemptstoEstablishaRelationship
Whenasked‘Arethereanylocalchurcheswithwhichyouhavetriedunsuccessfullytoestablisharelationship?’
• 41%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’• 54%ofrespondentssaid‘No’
Oftheschoolsthathadtriedunsuccessfullytoestablisharelationshipwithalocalchurch:
• Tenschools(23%)hadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisha
relationshipwithaRomanCatholicChurch.Commentsincluded:‘TheRomanCatholicpriestwillnotvisitourschool’‘Catholicclergyarefriendlybutwon'tcomeintothebuilding.’‘TheRomanCatholicChurchwillnotvisitus’
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• Threeschoolshadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisha
relationshipwithaPresbyterianChurch.
• TwoschoolshadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithaFreePresbyterianChurch,twoschoolshadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithaMethodistChurchandoneschoolhadbeenunsuccessfulwithaCongregationalChurch.
Inresponsetothequestion‘Ifclergyhavedeclinedtobecomeinvolvedinyourschool,whatreasons,ifany,havetheygiven?’respondentscommentsincluded:
‘Theparishpriestdoesnotagreewithintegratededucation,thereforedoesnotwanttovisitusbuthegoesalongwiththesacramentsandthepreparationinvolvedinit.’
‘Thelocalpriesthasbeeninvitedonquiteafewoccasionsbutdeclineswithoutreason.’
‘Theydon'tagreewithit,it’sverybluntsayingtoparishionersthatanintegratedschooleducationisnotacceptableandagainstthewishesoftheChurch.’
‘HeisnotallowedtobytheBishop.’
‘HeisveryclearthataschairmanoflocalMaintainedSchool,hecan'tbeseentobesupportinganintegratedschool.’
‘WearecarefulnottoputDiocesanCatholicclergyinthepositionofhavingtorefuseduetotheBishop’s(present)policy.Wearefortunatetohaveanotherpriestcomingregularly.’
‘Thereisusuallynoreasongiven,noreplyorarebusyandcouldnotmakeit.’
Severalintervieweesalsocommentedonthedifficultiestheyhadexperiencedinattemptingtodeveloplinkswithchurches:
‘WefeltthatweweredoingGod’swillbybuildingbridgesandwefeltsoletdownthatwedidnotreceivewarmandwholeheartedsupportfromthechurches.Weputitdowntothemnothavingpowerandcontroloverintegratedschools–itseemstobetheonlyreason.Intheearlydaysweweresodisappointed…wesentoutinvitationstoseminarsandconferencesandtheynevercame.’(Interview)‘Wefeltovertheyearsthattheclergywhoshoutedusdowndidn’tknowwhatwentoninanintegratedschool–theyhadneverbeentooneandtheyseemedtodeliberatelymisunderstand.’(Interview)
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‘WeweredisappointedbecauseinplaceslikeLaganCollegewewerebendingoverbackwardstogetREandtheChristianethosright.’(Interview)
(e)LinksSevered
Whentheschoolswereaskedthequestion‘Haveyouexperiencedanyinstanceswherelinkswereestablished,thensevered,byclergy?’
• 80%ofrespondentssaid‘No’• 14%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’
Theschoolsthatsaidyes,commentedonwhytheythinkthelinkwasseveredwithcommentssuchas:
‘Clergyhaveopenlyreferredtothelossofpupilsat‘theirown’parishschoolandoftheirviewthatchildrenshouldbebroughtupandeducatedwithinthechurch/schoolethos/environment.’
(f)PublicSupportorOppositionfromClergy
Whentheschoolswereaskedthequestion‘Haveyoureceivedanypublicsupportforyourschoolfromlocalclergy?’
• 59%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’• 39%ofrespondentssaid‘No’
Examplesgivenoftheformthispublicsupporthastakenincluded:
‘Whentherewasathreatoftheschoolclosingthelocalchurchesshowedtheirsupportbysendingletters.’
‘Whenweopenedanewnurseryunitthelocalpriestcamealongtotheopening.’
‘AttheofficialopeningthePresbyterian,MethodistandCatholicclergyattended.’
‘Theygiveusmoralsupport,comeinonvisitsandtheChurchofIrelandallowuseoftheirroomsandchairsetc.’
‘ThePresbyterianchurchnextdoorloansuschairs,crockeryetc.’
‘LocalCatholicclergyhavemadeitclearthatweareaschooloftheparishannouncementsaremadefromthepulpitandintheparishbulletin–thesameastheCatholicschools.ThereissimilarinformalsupportfromotherchurchessuchastheBaptistChurch.’
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‘Wehadspokensupport–sayingwhatagreatjobwe’redoingwiththechildren’sspiritualdevelopment.’
‘TheRomanCatholicclergymanendorsestheschoolethosandhassaidsoinpublicbulletins.’
‘CardinalBradyhasalwaystreatedusinthesamewayhehasotherparishschools.HisendorsementandthatofthethenparishpriestsetthesceneforallotherCatholicclergy.’
‘PublicsupportismorelikelytocomefromProtestantclergy.OneexampleofpublicsupportfromCatholicpriestwhothankedtheschoolforpreparingstudentsforconfirmationfromthealtarandanattemptfromanotherpriesttoincludeourstudentsinparticipation(readingsetc)atconfirmation.’
‘TheChurchofIrelandsupportusbylettingususetheirchurchforservicesandrenttheirhallforexams.’
Severalintervieweesalsospokeofsupportfromlocalchurches:
‘Thelocalchurchesareactivelyinvolvedintheschool.Theministersandpriestareverypositive.Theyseemtoworktogetherwell…thereisanopennessandfriendlinessamongthemandtheyworkwithusinplanningevents.’(Interview)
Whentheschoolswereaskedthequestion‘Haveyoubeenawareofanyovertoppositionbyclergytowardsyourschool?
• 64%ofrespondentssaid‘No’• 34%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’
Examplesgivenoftheformthispublicoppositionhastakenincluded:
‘Therewashostilityfromclergyandalackofacceptance.Aftereightyearsopinionbegantochangebutithastakenanothersevenyearssincethentohavealmosteveryoneonboard.’
‘Somediscouragementaboutenrollingchildrenreportedbyparents.Onestatementduringasermonencouragingparentsnottouseintegratededucationwasreportedbyparentsandstaff.’
‘ItisfairlyobvioustousherethattheRomanCatholicchurcharenotparticularlysupportivetointegratedschoolingingeneral.Howeverourlocalpriestdoeseverythinginhisremittosupportuswithoutupsettinghisclergyhierarchy.’
‘Thelocalpriestmentionedhisdisgustinthepulpit–sayingaperfectlygoodCatholicschoolalreadyexists.’
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‘AtaconfirmationservicetheBishoppresidingopenlytoldparentsthattheyshouldsendtheirchildrentoCatholicschoolschildrenfromourschoolwerebeingconfirmedbyhim.Thelocalpriesthasmadepersonal/homevisitstoconfrontfamilieswhohavemadetheintegratedchoice.’
‘Thepriestdoesnotencouragechildrentoattendthisintegratedschool…hehasspokenfrompulpitanddiscouragedparentsduringpastoralvisits.Theparishschoolisconstantlysupportedandthechildrenfromthisschoolareignored.’
‘Twentyyearsagoalltheclergyvoicedtheiropinionsloudly.’
‘Intheearlydays,wehadtheannualpronouncementsfromthepulpit(RomanCatholic)abouttheobligationonCatholicparentstosendtheirchildrentoCatholicschools.’
(g)DifferentFaithCommunities
Inresponsetothequestion‘Doesyourschoolhavearelationshipwithotherfaithcommunities?
• 52%ofrespondentssaid‘No’• 45%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’
Amongtheschoolsthatdohavearelationshipwithotherfaithcommunities,examplesgivenofhowlinksweredevelopedincluded:
‘Bahá'í parentshavecontributedtoassembliesasaresultoffamilylinks.’
‘WehavechildrenoftheHareKrishnafaithsowegetadviceonthisfromtheirparents.’
‘WevisittheSynagogueinBelfastandhaveinvitedtheRabbitotheschool.WearealsotryingtoestablishasimilarlinkwiththeMuslimcommunity.’
‘ThroughparentswhoareBuddhistandBahá'í.’
‘Theschool’scommunityrelationsprogrammeincludesadaylongvisittoMuslim/Indianfaithcentrestoexplorefaith/culturalissues.’
‘OvertheyearswehavehadanumberofMuslimstudentsweheldaconferenceforMuslimsandofferfacilitiesforprayer.’
‘WehaveHareKrishnaparentswhocomeintotalktothechildrenandalsowehave"called"prayerforMuslimchildren,onanindividualbasis.’
‘LinkswiththeMuslimcommunityaredevelopingthroughcontactwithparents.OntwooccasionsaMuslimleaderwasinvitedtoexplainhisfaithtoseniors.’
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(h)SchoolsDecliningApproachesfromaFaithGroup
Inresponsetothequestion‘Hasyourschooleverdeclinedanapproachtodeveloplinksfromachurchorotherfaithgroup?’
• 89%ofrespondentssaid‘No’• 7%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’
Amongthefewschoolsthatdiddeclineapproachesfromafaithgroup,themainreasongivenwasconcernsthatanevangelisticgroupwasintendingto‘usetheclassroomforevangelisticpurposes.’
(i)Conclusions
ThevastmajorityofintegratedschoolsinNorthernIrelandregardlinkswithchurchesasimportantandactivelytrytodevelopsuchlinkswithlocalchurches.MostintegratedschoolshavearelationshipwithChurchofIreland,RomanCatholicandPresbyterianChurches.Themaintypesoflinkwithlocalchurchesarepupilvisitstochurches,conductofworshipinschoolandchurchservices,useofchurchpremisesforschooleventsandpreparationforRomanCatholicsacraments.Themajorityofintegratedschoolsarevisitedbyclergyatleastonceaterm.However,twofifthsoftheschoolshavetriedunsuccessfullytoestablisharelationshipwithalocalchurch.JustunderaquarterofintegratedschoolshavebeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithalocalRomanCatholicChurch.Morethanhalfoftheschoolshavereceivedpublicsupportfromlocalclergy.Justoverathirdoftheschoolshaveexperiencedpublicoppositionbyclergy,mainlyCatholicclergymakingpublicstatementsdiscouragingCatholicparentsfromchoosinganintegratedschoolratherthanaCatholicschool.Justoverhalfofintegratedschoolsdonothavearelationshipwithotherfaithcommunities.Amongthejustunderhalfofschoolsthatdohavearelationshipwithdifferentfaithcommunities,thistendstobedevelopedthroughparentswhoareMuslim,Bahá'í,Buddhist,HareKrishnaorHindu.Thevastmajorityofintegratedschoolshaveneverdeclinedanapproachtodeveloplinksfromachurchorotherfaithgroup.
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5.2CatholicChurchinIreland
OfthefourlargerchurchesinNorthernIreland,theRomanCatholicChurchistheonewithwhichintegratedschoolshad,andcontinuestohavethemostchallengingrelationships.
Whenaskediftheyhadanyothercommentstheywouldliketofeedintotheresearch,themajorityofcommentsrelatedtotherelationshipwithCatholicclergy.Commentsincluded:‘IfeelthatCatholickidsareatadisadvantagebecausethepriestrefusestovisittheschoolonapastoralbasisbuttheProtestantclergydo.’‘TheCatholicchurchdoesnottreatourchildrenequallytochildrenintheMaintainedSector’‘WehavealwaysbeenandremainkeentodevelopourrelationshiptothepointwherelocalRomanCatholicclergywillentertheschool.’Howevernotallcommentswerenegative:‘TheCatholicChurchallowsustohaveourownseparateservicesforcommunionandconfession.Wearetreatedequallywithotherparishschools.’
Thesurveyfoundthatalthough23%ofintegratedschoolshadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithaRomanCatholicChurch,themajority(68%)ofintegratedschoolsdohavearelationshipwiththeirlocalCatholicclergy.
Experiencesdifferfromschooltoschool.Positiverelationshipswerehighlightedbyanumberofschools:
‘Thepriestcomesinandtakesclassesandliturgies.Wehaveacloserelationshipandheknowswedoagoodjob.’(Interview)
Relationshipswereparticularlydifficultintheearlyyearsofintegratededucation.
‘TheCatholicChurchandlocalCatholicschoolswereextremelyhostileinthebeginning…weseemedtobesteppingontoesandtheybelievedanotherschoolwasnotneeded…Thelocalpriestwouldn’tallowthechildrentobeconfirmedintheirownparish–Catholicchildrenweren’twelcomeintheirownparish!...WehadalongbattletogetourownFirstCommunionbutwepersisted,wedidn’tgiveupwespokeforthechildrenwhowerebeingtreatedassecondclasscitizens…Wehadtobattleonfor10yearsanditwasverydifficultandverystressfulforparents…butthereisanagreementnowandthelocalclergyaremoresupportive…butIwouldstillliketoseetheparishpriestcomeintotheschooltotakeassembly.’(Interview)
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‘WhenintegratedschoolsweresetupmyperceptionistheRomanCatholicChurchdidnotwholeheartedlyorwarmlysupportit…althoughtheProtestantchurchesweren’tthatwholeheartedeither.’(Interview)
‘InthepastitwascommonthatweweredenouncedfromCatholicpulpits.InthepastyearIknowofanexampleofaparishpriesttellingparentsfromthepulpitnottosendtheirchildrentothelocalintegratedschool.’(Interview)
‘Therehasbeenalotofveryclearopposition.TheCatholichierarchywanttokeeptheCatholickidsinaCatholicSchoolandtheyareafraidoflosingsomecontrol.SomeCatholicPrimarySchoolshavebeentoldtohavenothingtodowithusandsomeoftheirprincipalshaveapologisedthatwearenotallowedintotheirschoolstoinformtheirpupilsabouttheCollege.Howeverothershavewelcomedusin–itseemstobedependentontheparishpriest.’(Interview)
Relationshipscontinuetobeuneasyinvariousways:
‘Weinvitedtheparishpriesttocometotheschoolandhecame–hesaidhewasuncomfortablebutwashereforthechildren.’(Interview)
‘Ifitwasn’tforthesacraments,theCatholicChurchwouldnotbeinvolvedintheschool…andinthepastourchildrenweretoleratedratherthanincluded…soit’sbetterthatwehaveaseparateschooleventforfirstcommunion–itinvolvesallthechildrenandisanopportunitytocelebratedifference.’(Interview)
‘YoucouldarguethatCatholicchildrenmightnotgetenoughdoctrineinanintegratedschool…onehouraweekisnotenoughinaCatholicschoolitispartoftheformaldayeveryday.(Interview)
‘CatholicclergyaccepttheprincipleofparentalchoicebuttheysayintegratededucationshouldnotbethechoiceforaCatholicparent.’(Interview)
AfewintegratedschoolshavedecidednottoinvolveanyclergyintheirschoolbecausetheyhavebeenunabletoinvolveCatholicclergy.
‘TherehasbeenareluctancetoinviteclergyintotheschoolbecausetheCatholicswouldn’tcome.’(Interview)
‘Ihaveneveroncebeeninvitedtotakeanassemblyattheintegratedschoolnextdoor.ItappearsthatiftheRomanCatholicChurchchoosesnottobeinvolvedthenIamexcludedundersomeequalitybasis’(Interview)
HoweverasomeintegratedschoolshavebeenabletoinvolveCatholicclergyfromReligiousOrdersinplaceswerediocesanpriestswillnotvisittheschool.
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AnumberofintervieweespointedoutthatCatholicclergydonottakeregularAssembliesinCatholicschoolsinthesamewaythatProtestantclergytakeassembliesincontrolledschools:
‘CatholicclergydonottakeAssembliesinCatholicSchoolsexceptperhapsforaspecialmass.’(Interview)
‘ThereislessofatraditionoftakingassembliesbyparishpriestsinCatholicschools’(Interview)
MostintervieweeswereunabletociteawrittenCatholicpolicyonintegratedschoolsinNorthernIreland.
‘ThereisnowrittenCatholicPolicyStatementonintegratededucation…thepositionisthatitistherightoftheparentstoidentifyandmaketherightchoiceofaschool…TherehasbeenachangefromtheexpectationthatallCatholicchildrenwillgotoCatholicschools.Forexamplethereisarecognitionthatthismightbethechoiceformixedmarriages.’(Interview)
Themostconsistentpoliciessuggestedfromtheexperienceofintervieweeswerethat:
• Parentshavearighttochoosehowtoeducatetheirchildren• Catholicparentsareencouragedtoeducatetheirchildrenwithina
Catholicschool• TheimportanceofgivingCatholicchildrenanidentityinaCatholic
school• BishopsdonottakeuptheinvitationtoappointCatholicgovernors
totheplacesallocatedtothemwithintheBoardofGovernorsoftransformedControlledIntegratedSchools
However,whenitcomestotherelationshipbetweenCatholicclergyandlocalintegratedschoolsthereisadiversityofapproachesamongCatholicDiocesesanddifferentCatholicclergy:
‘Oneofthefirstquestionsotherparents,particularlyCatholicparentsaskeduswhenwewerestartingtheschoolwas“willreligiouspreparationbeprovided?”TheBishoptoldusitcamedirectlyfromthePopenottohaveCatholicchaplainsinintegratedschools.ThelocalparishsaidtheywerewillingbuttheirhandsweretiedanditwascomingfromtheBishop.AtfirsttherewasovertcriticismandalotofourearlyintakeofCatholicsweren’tpracticing…butoncewewereupandrunningwewereslottedin…itwasallverysuperficial;theydidwhattheyhadtodo.Theydidn’twanttoprovidepreparationforthesacramentsthroughtheschoolbuttheyputateacherintouchwithustocomeandpreparethechildren.’(Interview)
‘Iamnotawareofanypolicythatpriestsaren’tallowedtogointoanintegratedschool.TheChurchacceptsthatpeoplewillmaketheirowndecision...MostpriestsarepreparedtosupportthepreparationforthesacramentsinintegratedschoolsandmostBishopsarequiteacceptingofthis.’(Interview)
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IntervieweesconsistentlyhighlighttheimpactofthepersonalviewsofindividualCatholicclergy:
‘It’sverymuchapersonalapproach–priestsdotheirownthing.’(Interview)
‘AsanREteacherandaRomanCatholicIfeelabitletdown.Theformerpriestinthisareawasverygoodwithus–theproblemwashislinemanager.’(Interview)
‘Thelocalparishpriestisaregularvisitortoboththeprimaryandpostprimaryintegratedschoolsinthisarea…itdependsonindividualclergyandtheintegratedschool.’(Interview)
‘ItwouldbegreattohaveallclergycomingintointegratedschoolsbutCatholicpriestsfinditdifficultandIthinkweneedtoaddressthis…Ithinkthepersonalapproachisveryimportant’(Interview)
InsituationswheretherearedifficultrelationshipsitisinterestingthatsomeintervieweesexplainedthisasaresultofthepersonalviewsofthelocalparishpriestwhileothersindicatedthatthiswasaresultofthepolicyoftheirBishop.
Asignificantfindingisthataconsiderablenumberofintervieweestalkedaboutwhattheycalleda“softening”oftheapproachofCatholicclergyinrecentyears,whichtheytendedtodescribeas“pragmatic”.
‘Therehasbeenahugechange…initiallyintegratededucationwastaboo–nowit’sintheparishbulletin!’(Interview)
‘’Theyhavedrawnbackfromdenouncingusfromthepulpitandtheyareinterestedintheapproachof‘integrating’educationandpromotingacultureoftolerance…locallytheytrytofindanaccommodationthatdoesn’tbreaktherules.’(Interview)
‘Iamamazedathowmuchprogresstherehasbeeninrecentyears…Icantbelieveit–thereisasenseofvaluingourchildrennowandifparentsarewillingtobringthemupintheFaithitshouldbevalued.’(Interview)
‘TheapproachoftheCatholicChurchhasmellowedforpragmaticreasons–the62integratedschoolsarenotgoingtogoaway.’(Interview)
‘Theparishpriestcameintotheschoolonemonthagoforthefirsttimeintwentyyears.’(Interview)
‘WearenowbeingactivelyinvitedouttoCatholicprimaryschoolstospeaktoP7sandwenowhavechildrentransferringtousfromtheCatholicsectorthatpreviouslywouldn’thavecomenearus...infactwegettheleastnumberofchildrenfromthelocalintegratedprimaryschoolwhichfeedsmoreintoGrammarSchoolsoutsideofthiscommunity,becauseparentsthereperceiveGrammarastheonlyeducationfortheirchildren’(Interview)
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‘TheCatholichierarchyarestillhesitant.Aretheygoingtoneglectthespiritualeducationoftheirchildren?Theirapproachismorepragmaticthanallembracing.’(Interview)
‘InthepasttheparishpriestdraftedalettertoalltheprincipalsofalltheCatholicprimaryschoolssayingwewerenottobeallowedintotheprimaryschoolstotalkabouttheIntegratedCollege.Itwasalsosaidatmassthatwewerenotallowedtosendourchildrentoanintegratedschool.Butthathaschangednowbecauseparentsspeakupmorenowanddon’twanttobedictatedtobytheChurch.’(Interview)
‘TheparishpriestherehasbeenveryupfrontinhisinvolvementinourschoolandhassaidsoinfrontoftheBishop.Somepeopleintheparisharesupportiveandothersarenot.Heisaverybraveman…anditwouldbehardtowindbackprogressnowifanotherparishpriestcameinwhowaslesssupportive.’(Interview)
‘IfyouhaveaninterchurchmarriageoraCatholiccouplewhothinkthisistherightwaytogothenthat’stherightoftheirchildren.InthepastthepolicywasforusnottogointointegratedschoolsbecauseparentsshouldbesendingtheirchildrentoCatholicschools,buttherehasbeenasoftening.NowMaintainedSchoolsareseenasnotjustforCatholicsandthereisagreateremphasisontoleranceandrespect.’(Interview)
‘TheapproachoftheRomanCatholicChurchisverydifferentfromtenyearsago.It’snotperfect–wearestillseenasathreatandtheybelieveaCatholicchildwillloseoutatanintegratedschool,buttherehasbeenasoftening...anewBishopbringsnewhope…HoweverDiocesanpriestsstilldon’tfeelfreetocomehere–theyareneverintheschool’(Interview)
ThesechangesarealsoreflectedinanincreasedemphasisondiversitywithinCatholicschools:
‘TheSecondVaticanCouncil(196265)initsDecreeonChristianEducationclearlyembracedthebeliefthat,througheducation,people“shouldbeopentodialoguewithothersandwillinglydevotethemselvestothecommongood”(GravissimumEducationis,Para1).Thereisanexplicitdemandthateachschool“byprovidingfriendlycontactsbetweenpupilsofdifferentcharactersandbackgrounds…encouragesmutualunderstanding”(para5).
Catholicschools“arenolesszealousthanotherschoolsinthepromotionofcultureandinthehumanformationofyoungpeople.Itis,however,thespecialfunctionoftheCatholicschooltodevelopintheschoolcommunityanatmosphereanimatedbyaspiritoflibertyandcharitybasedontheGospel.”(Para8).’(BuildingPeaceShapingtheFuture,2001)
‘CatholicschoolsexisttomeetthewishofparentswhodesireaCatholiceducationfortheirchildren.’(BuildingPeaceShapingtheFuture,2001)
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‘Inprinciple,therefore,Catholicschoolsareopentochildrenofalldenominations.Indeed,thepresenceofchildrenfromotherdenominationsisseenasenrichmentoftheeducationexperienceofferedbytheschoolandasapracticalexpressiontothecommitmenttoinclusivity.’(BuildingPeaceShapingtheFuture,2001)
AjointRomanCatholic/ChurchofIrelandschoolopenedintheRepublicofIrelandin2005.oGaelscoilantSliDala,anIrishmediumprimaryschoolinBallaghmore,BorrisinOssory,CoLaois,openedinSeptember2005.ItwasthefirstschoolinIrelandtobeestablishedunderjointpatronageoftheRomanCatholicChurchandtheChurchofIreland.
‘We welcome the possibility for the new venture in joint patronage of aprimary school.Therequest forour jointpatronagewasmade in the firstinstancebytheparents’groupatBallaghmore.Whilethisisanewentityinthe conceptof patronageofprimary schoolswearehappy to support therequest of our parents that their new school should incorporate a firmChristian ethos that it is highly respectful of both traditions. WecongratulatetheBallaghmoreMuintirNaTireCouncilintheworktheyaredoingtoensurethatthereiseducationalprovisionforthechildrenoftheirareawhowishtoreceiveaChristianprimaryschooleducationthroughthemediumof Irish’. (StatementofBishopWillieWalsh andBishopMichaelMayes,2007)
In2000,representativesofthefourmajorchurches,supportedbytheDepartmentofEducation,tookpartinastudyvisittoEnglandtoseeseveralJointChurchofEngland/RomanCatholicFaithSchoolsinaction.Accordingtothe“JointProtestant–RomanCatholicSchool,CollegesandUniversitiesDirectory2007”thereare16suchschoolsinEnglandandWales.AsharedfaithschoolisnotauniqueconceptinBritain,wherechurchattendanceismuchlowerthaninNorthernIreland.
‘…perhapsatownhasnotenoughCatholicstofillaschool,theChurchofEnglandwantstoexpandandthelocalauthorityiskeentoreducethenumberofschools.InseveralcasesthechurcheshaveclubbedtogetherratherthanrisklosingwhatmightbetheonlyChristiansecondaryschoolinthearea.’(Combe,2006)
TheStudyVisitin2000resultedinverypositivecommentsfromparticipantsfromtheProtestantchurches.Forexample,theMinutesoftheMethodistConferencein2000stated:
“WecontinuedtoresearchtheareaofIntegratedEducationandwesharedinanecumenicalvisittoschoolsinHarrogate....Thiswasaprofitablevisitthatgaveustheopportunitytoviewanecumenicalinitiativeinintegratededucation.Thetwoschools,oneChurchofEnglandandotherRomanCatholic,committedtointegratingtheir6thformpupils,representedamodelthathasmuchtoencourageusinthepursuitofapossiblewayforward.’(MinutesofMethodistConference,2000)
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However,ideasofinitiatingresearchtoexploretheideaofapilotforNorthernIrelandhavenotprogressed.SeveralintervieweesbelievedthebarriertofurtherdevelopmenthasbeencompetingprioritieswithintheDepartmentofEducationandalackofenthusiasmtowardstheidea,particularlyfromtheRomanCatholicChurch.
‘IttookgreatvisionandleadershipofthetwoBishopsinLiverpooltomakeajointschoolmodelwork.Wediscussedapilotandascopingstudy,butitdiedadeath.TheMaintainedSectorisorganisingseparatelyforlocalareaplanningnowsoIamquitedisillusioned.TherewillbeverylittlemovetointegrationunlessthereisachangeinstancefromtheRomanCatholicChurch,andtheDepartmentofEducationappearstorunshyofthis.’(Interview)
‘TheJointFaithSchoolsideaseemstohavebeenovertakenbyotherprioritiesineducation,butitwouldimportanttorevisitthisintime.’(Interview)
IntervieweesspokeoftheirhopesforanimprovedrelationshipbetweenintegratedschoolsandtheIrishCatholicChurchinthefuturebutbelievedtherewouldbeongoingchallenges:
‘TheCatholicChurchshouldappointsomeonetolookseriouslyatthisissue–itisanextremelyimportantissue.’(Interview)
‘IwouldliketoseeCatholicpriestsintheirpastoralrolereachingintointegratedschoolsandCatholicchildrenatintegratedschoolsbeingtreatedequallybypriests.’(Interview)
‘…thereappeartobenewmessagesbeingsentbytheCatholicChurchabouttheneedforfaithbasedschoolstodevelopawelcomeforotherfaithsandmoreinclusivepractices.Supportersiftheintegratedmovementmaywellaskiftheseaspirationswillallowchangesingovernanceandstaffprofilestodemonstratemeaningfulinclusion.’(Ellis,2006)
‘IwouldliketoseetheCatholicChurchprovidingGovernorsforCatholicTrusteesintransformedschools–Iwouldliketoseethatformallyapproved.’(Interview)
‘Iwouldliketoseeanactivedesiretosay‘Howdoweshapenewwaysofsharing?Howcanwecreatenewwaysofbeingtogether?ButattheminutetheCatholicEducationSectorisdevelopingseparateareabasedplansandtheControlledandIntegratedSectorsarenotconsulted.’(Interview)
‘ProtestantChurcheshavebeenpositiveaboutintegratedschoolsbuttheCatholicChurchhasnot.Butit’snotgoingtoworkunlessCatholicsareinvolvedthereisanecumenicalstrengthinusworkingtogether.’(Interview)
‘Itseemslikeweareina‘truce’now,buthowdowenegotiatenewwaysofbeingtogether?Canwebecreative?Canweworkonsomelocalpilotstogether?Secularismiscoming!’(Interview)
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‘FollowingtheBainReporttheremaybeahalttonewdevelopmentanditmightbemoreaboutintegratingschools.Therearesomeexcitingideasaboutmoresharingbuttherehastobeawilltodoit…theonusisonthesectorstofindcreativewaysofsharingspace,staff,facilitiesmanagementetcforgreatercollaboration.’(Interview)
‘TheProtestantChurchesarenothavingdifficultconversationswithRomanCatholicsaboutthisinordertomaintaingoodrelations…ThereneedstobeamoreembracingpositionandattitudetointegratedfaithbasedschoolsfromtheRomanCatholicChurch,inareaswherethatitpossible.’(Interview)
RelationsbetweenintegratedschoolsandtheRomanCatholicChurchhaveclearlyimprovedinmanyplacesoverthepast25years.However,difficultiesremainwhichcontinuetohaveanegativeimpactonrelationsbetweentheintegratedsectorandtheRomanCatholicChurch.Inadditiontothis,wherethereisalackofdiscussionthiscanalsohaveanegativeimpactuponrelationsbetweenCatholicsandProtestantsinNorthernIrelandingeneral.
‘The Roman Catholic Church’s stance on integrated education…is notintendedtobesectarian,itisaboutidentity,ethosandcommunitybuilding.But in a societywhere the dividing lines are so substantial that in placesthey are built in brick and metal, the general refusal to engage in theconversation about integrated education at best tends to harden theboundariesbetweenRomanCatholicsandProtestantsthroughsuspicionofthe Catholic Church’s motives, and at worst lends itself to belittlingProtestantorStateeducation.Itisimportanttonoteinthisexamplethatitisnotaquestionofwhetherornot integratededucation isseenasagoodthing in and of itself. That is a wholly other discussion. Rather it is thedestructive patterns of relating engendered by refusing to enter intodiscussionwhich attract the judgement of being sectarian.’ (Cecilia CleggandJosephLiechty,2001)
5.3ChurchofIreland
Thesurveyfoundthat73%ofintegratedschoolshavearelationshipwiththeirlocalChurchofIrelandclergy,thehighestpercentageforanychurch.NoneoftheschoolshadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwiththeChurchofIreland.
IntervieweesindicatedthattherewasnowrittenpolicyontherelationshipoftheChurchofIrelandtointegratedschools.
AfewintervieweesbelievedtheChurchhadnotbeensupportive:
‘TheChurchofIrelandhasbeenambivalent,neversayinganythingopenlyinfavourofintegratededucation.’(Interview)
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‘TheChurchofIrelandhasbeenlukewarm–theyhavehadnorealhearttochangethesystem…Theylookmoretotheirlossof‘wishingwehadneverhandedourschoolsover’ratherthanconsiderwhatcouldhavebeengainediftheyhadendorsedintegratededucationasawaytoadvanceamorepeacefulNorthernIreland.’(Interview)
However,thegeneralviewwasthattheChurchofIreland,whilenotproactiveinthedevelopmentofintegratededucation,issupportiveofintegratedschoolsaslongastheydonotimpactnegativelyoncontrolledschools.Commentsincluded:
‘TheChurchofIrelandhasnowrittenpolicyonintegratededucation.Howeverspeechesandstatementsaroundlegislationforintegratededucationwasinitiallylargelysupportive…butwhenintegratedschoolsbegantobecomeathreattotheControlledSectortowhichtheChurchhadanhistoricallink,thentheChurchofIrelandbecameneutralandneverreallydevelopedapolicy…’(Interview)
‘TheChurchofIrelandwascarefulandconcernedaboutprotectingcontrolledschoolsbutnowtheyhavebecomeverycourageousintheirsupport.’(Interview)
‘ThereisnoChurchofIrelandpolicyonintegratedschools.Themaindifferenceisthatwearelessinvolvedintheclassroomsinintegratedschools.’(Interview)
‘TheChurchofIrelandhasbeensupportivebuthasnotwantedtobeatloggerheadswiththeirCatholiccounterparts’.(Interview)
‘TheChurchofIrelandhasacceptedthatintegratededucationwasthere,buttherewasnopolicydecisiontoactivelysupportit.Howevertheydonotdiscourageparentswhochooseit.‘(Interview)
‘Thereisasenseoflossintransformationofcontrolledschoolstointegratedstatus–onesideexperiencesthelossbecausenoCatholicschoolhasevertransformed.’(Interview)
‘Themajorworkofreconciliation,thechurchesbelieve,mustbetackledinthecontrolled,maintainedandvoluntarygrammarschoolsectors.Accordinglythechurchesarebeginningtospeakoftheneedfor“integratingeducation”inadditiontointegratededucation’.(Ellis,2006)
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5.4PresbyterianChurchinIreland
ThesurveyfoundthattwothirdsofintegratedschoolshavearelationshipwiththeirlocalPresbyterianChurch.
ThreeschoolshadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithaPresbyterianChurch.
Followingaseriesofconcernsaboutintegratededucationduringthe1990’s9,in2000theStateEducationCommitteeoftheChurchencouragedPresbyterianministerstoplayafullpartwithinintegratedschools,withastatementcommendingtheChristianethoswithinintegratedschools:
‘The1996GeneralAssemblysupportedtheprincipleofControlledIntegratedEducationwherethereislocaldemandforintegratedschoolprovision.SincethattimetheChurchhasincreasinglycometoappreciatethespiritualvaluewhichNICIEiscommittedtofosteringaspartoftheintegratedschoolsethosandacknowledgesthewelcomeaccordedtoministersofreligionintointegratedschools,notonlyonthebasisofthestatutoryrightofentry,butalsoashavingasignificantroleinthespiritualandmoralformationofchildrenandyoungpeopleandashavingacontributiontomaketotheoverallworkandlifeoftheschool…
Ministersareencouragedtovisittoplayasfullapartintheirlocalintegratedschoolsastheywoulddointhecontrolledsector.’
(PresbyterianChurchStateEducationCommittee,2000)
IntervieweeshighlighteddifferentattitudestointegratededucationwithinthePresbyterianChurchdependentontheviewsoflocalclergyand/orcongregations.Commentsincluded:
‘TheapproachofthePresbyterianChurchhasbeenacuriousmixtureincludingsomegreatadvocatesforintegratededucation.Itseemstobedecidedlocally.’(Interview)
‘LocalPresbyterianscanbeinterestedornotinterested–itdependsontheclergy.’(Interview)
‘ThetwoPresbyterianchurcheshavebeenpositiveandwehaveaHarvestServiceinoneofthePresbyterianChurcheseveryyear.’(Interview)
‘Insomesituationstheministermightbewelldisposedtotheintegratedschoolbutneedstobesensitivetotheviewsofthecongregation.’(Interview)
9‘AtonepointthePresbyterianswereactivelyagainstameetingbetweenNICIEandtheTransferorsRepresentativeCouncil.’(Interview)
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‘IntheearlydaysthePresbyterianclergyandelderswhoweresupportiveofintegratededucationwerealsothosewhoweredisinclinedtopickfightswiththeCatholichierarchy…theywerethemoreecumenicallyminded…HoweverovertheyearswhenpeoplebegantorealisethatintegratedschoolstookREandChristianethosseriously(moreseriouslyincontrastwithsomecontrolledandGrammarSchools)moreconservativePresbyterianshavebecomemorecomfortablewithintegratedschools.’(Interview)
‘ThefocuswasoftenontheCatholicclergywhowereoftensayingnotointegratedschoolsandthattooktheheatofftheProtestantclergy.’(Interview)
‘ItishardtogetaconsistentPresbyterianviewonintegratededucation.SomehavetheologicalconcernsandotherslikeourChristianethos.’(Interview)
IngeneralintervieweesfeltthatPresbyterianChurch,whilenotproactiveinthedevelopmentofintegratededucation,issupportiveofparentalchoiceandencouragesitsministerstoplayafullpartwithinintegratedschools.Itissupportiveofintegratedschoolsaslongastheydonotimpactnegativelyoncontrolledschools.Commentsincluded:
‘ThePresbyterianChurch’spublishedviewshavebeenfairlypositive…encouragingparentsintheirfreedomtochoose...Integratededucationisseenasverylaudablebutthechurchesmightbeexpectedtobemoresupportive…supporthasbeensomewhatmutedataformallevelbuttherearegoodrelationshipswhereintegratedschoolsdidn’tthreatenothercontrolledschools.’(Interview)
5.5MethodistChurchinIreland
Thesurveyfoundthat41%ofintegratedschoolshavearelationshipwiththeirlocalMethodistChurch.
TwoschoolshadbeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithaMethodistChurch.
SeveralintervieweesindicatedthattheMethodistChurchhadbeenthemostsupportiveofthefourmajorchurchesinNorthernIreland.
‘TheMethodistshavebeenthemostconsistentlypositiveandsupportiveChurchtowardsintegratededucation.’(Interview)
‘Methodistshavebeenthemostunequivocalintheirsupport’(Interview)
‘IhaveneverheardanythingotherthansupportfromtheMethodistChurch.’(Interview)
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‘OurChurchwouldliketoseeaControlledSchooltransformratherthanclosebecauseanewintegratedschoolhasopened.’(Interview)
Onceagainthereisnoclearwrittenpolicy.IngeneralintervieweesfeltthattheMethodistChurch,whilenotproactiveinthedevelopmentofintegratededucation,issupportiveofparentalchoiceandintegratedschoolsaslongasthisdoesnotimpactnegativelyoncontrolledschools.
‘ThereisnoclearwrittenpolicyinMethodismbuttherehavebeenstatementsduringtheMethodistConferenceovertheyears…TheChurchhasbeensupportivetobringingpupilstogetherfromdifferentbackgrounds,ratherthanjustaweebitofEMU,butaslongasthisdoesnotresultintheclosureofanotherschool.’’(Interview)
5.6OtherProtestantChurches
ThesurveyfoundthataquarterofschoolshadarelationshipwithaBaptistChurch.
Intervieweestalkedaboutpositiveworkingrelationshipsinsomeareas:
‘Whenweweregettingstartedweinvitedallthechurchestoouropeneveningsbutnoonecame…thentheBaptistpastorcametoapologisefornotcomingandonbehalfofthelocalInterChurchGrouptosaythatthechurchesarefullysupportive.’(Interview)
‘EachBaptistchurchisautonomoussoIdon’tknowaboutotherBaptistchurchesbutweseetheintegratedschoolsequally...andthereisahealthyrespect.’(Interview)
‘Baptistshavebeenpragmatic.Ifthereisaschooltheretheywillbeinvolved,buttheywontbeaguidinglightinsettingitupandthereisabigdiversityamongBaptists–it’smoreaboutthelocalcongregation.’(Interview)
SeveralintervieweesreferredtotheologicalconcernsaroundworshipwithCatholics:
‘TherehavebeenoccasionswhenBaptistswithdrewtheirchildrenfromeventswhereCatholicclergywereinvolved.’(Interview)
‘Baptistsseemtohaveadifficultyintakingpartinpublicwithotherclergy.’(Interview)
CommentsregardingothersmallerProtestantdenominationsincluded:
‘WehavesomeBrethrenchildrenwhooptoutofAssemblyandwetrytoaccommodatethemasbestwecan.’(Interview)
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‘WearewellsupportedbythePresbyterian,ChurchofIrelandandMethodistChurchesandthelocalCommunityChurchprovidesacounsellingservice.’(Interview)
‘SmallerchurchessuchasChristianFellowshipChurchandVineyardhaveawarmandopenattitudetointegratedschools.TheexceptionhasbeenFreePresbyterians,whohavetheirownschools,andsomeElimPentecostalChurcheswhohaveconcernsbecauseoftheirtheologicalviewofCatholics.’(Interview)
5.7DifferentFaithCommunities
Justoverhalfofintegratedschoolsdonothavearelationshipwithotherfaithcommunities.Amongthejustunderhalfofschoolsthatdohavearelationshipwithdifferentfaithcommunities,thistendstobedevelopedthroughparentsratherthanthroughformallinkswithreligiousleaders.Commentsincluded:‘WewelcomeparentswhoareJehovah’sWitnessesandthosewhohavenoreligiousbeliefs.TheirchildrencanbewithdrawnfromAssembliesiftheywish.’(Interview)‘OurPakistanichildrenareMuslimsandwereinvolvedinourmulticulturaldaywhichincludedMuslimprayers…Inassemblieswesay“praytoyourGod”andatChristmasweincludehowdifferentgroupsandnationalitiesincludingMuslims,celebrateatthattimeoftheyear.’(Interview)‘WehavenoformallinkswithMuslimleadersbutwehavevisitsfrompeopleofotherfaiths.’(Interview)‘OurMuslimchildrensharedthemeaningofRamadanwiththeirclass.’(Interview)‘NICIEhasgoodrelationshipswiththeBelfastIslamicCentre,theSynagogueandtheHinduCentreandwearerepresentedontheInterFaithForum.WepromotelinkswithotherfaithsandwewereanadvocateforotherfaithsbeinginvolvedinthereviewofRE.’(Interview)
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6 ChristianEthosinIntegratedSchools
6.1Statement
(a)ChristianEthos
Whenaskedthequestion‘Doesyourschoolindicateinitsprospectus/missionstatementthatithasaChristianethos?’
• 80%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’• 9%ofrespondentssaid‘No’
Whenaskedthereasonforthisthemainresponsesgivenwere:
• Itisalegalrequirement• ItisintheNICIEStatementofPrinciples• Themajorityofchildren/parents/NorthernIrelandisChristian• Itispartofthevisionofthefounders/governors
Schoolswereaskedtochooseoneofaseriesofthesewordsthatbestdescribedtheirschool’sapproachtoreligion.Theresultswereasfollows:ALLFAITHSANDNONE 43%
CHRISTIAN 34%
ECUMENICAL 7%
HUMANIST 0%
MULTIFAITH 0%
SECULAR 0%
OTHER(mainlyaCombinationofChristianandAllFaithsandNone) 11%
IntervieweesdescribedtheapproachtoChristianethoswithinintegratedschoolsindifferentways.Forexample:
‘WetrytofollowtheNICIEPrinciples.OurAssemblieshaveaChristianslanttothembutnotattheexpenseofotherfaiths…Christianityisnotrammedatourstudents–it’saboutunderlyingvaluesofunderstandingandrespect.’(Interview)
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‘WehaveaChristianethoshere…it’sintheprospectus,butatopennightssomeparentsthinkthereisnoreligionatintegratedschools…butIthinkitwouldbedetrimentaltothechildren’sunderstandingofeachothertotakethisaway.’(Interview)
‘Integratedschoolshavealighttouchintheirapproachtoreligion,notacontrolapproach,andthisappealstoparents…Whatwefindinintegratedschoolsisnotreligion–it’sfaith.WedonothaveChristianreligioninintegratedschoolsintermsofformaldenominationsbeingincontrol.’(Interview)
‘Thereshouldbefreedomtoexpressyourreligiousbeliefswithinintegratedschools.’(Interview)
‘FormehavingaChristianethosmeansourschoolisbuiltonthevaluesthatChristtaughtandIthinkthatmakesusagoodschool.Iamtalkingaboutvaluessuchascitizenship,selfesteemandsenseofpurpose.’(Interview)
‘Wedon’tshyawayfromtellingBiblestoriesbutwearenottellingthechildrenwhattobelieve–it’snotourjobtotellyouwhattobelieve.’(Interview)
‘OurChristianethosisanimportantpartofourschool.Initiallyweidentifiedspecificfestivalstoincludeinourprogrammetoencouragesharing.Wedidnotfeelitimportantattheoutsettoinvolvelocalchurchesotherthantovisitthem.ItwasmoreimportanttoimpressourChristianidentityontheschool.Wemaynowwishtochangethispositionbutarefindingitdifficulttoknowhow.’(SurveyComment)
BillBrownofACThasdefinedChristianethosasfollows:
‘Amajorquestionremains:HowdoesoneensurethatschoolshaveaChristianethos?Somenegativesarerequiredfirsttomakethatfocusclearer.AChristianethosisnotachurchethosandtheintegratedschoolsarenot“churchlinked”schools.AChristianethosisnotonewhereanyareuncomfortablewiththeirownbeliefs.AChristianethosisnotonewherealternativeordifferentviewpointscannotbeairedeasilyordiscussed.AChristianethosisnotparochialorselectiveinanyway.Whatisitpositively?ClearlytheethosmustbecentrallyinformedbytheteachingofChrist:
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• Itacceptsallpupilsasequallyvaluableandvalid.Sotheallinclusive,allabilityintake,allunderoneroofphilosophyiscentral,“ForthereisneitherJewnorGreek,boundorfree…allone”.
• Itisnotjudgmentalorcondemnatorybutcaringandconcernedinitstreatmentofandapproachtopupils…”NeitherdoIcondemnyou.”.
• Itstressesthe“KingdomofGod”viewofcommunityandnotindividuals.Thustheallinclusivenotioniscentral.Atthesametimeeveryindividualisgivenspecialvalue.
• Itstressestheimportanceorrecognisingthespiritualdimensionofeveryoneandseekstodevelopeachperson’sspiritualquest.
• Itwelcomeslightfromanyquarter.• Itseekstorescuepupilsfromanarroworsectarianviewandrelease
themtoaworldperspective.• Itpromotestoleranceandadoptsanecumenicalperspective,
stressingcaringandconsiderationtoalldifferentorallinneed.• Itacknowledgestheparttraditionalreligionhasplayedinthis
communityandineducation,andwelcomestheinterestandinvolvementofthechurches,atthesametimepromotingbridgebuilding.
• Atitsheartistheconcernforconsistencyinalldealingwithparentsandpupilsandaguardedstanceagainsthypocrisyoranystancesuggestingsuperiority.
• Finally,theremustbeanacceptingandcooperativestancetowardsschoolswhicharedifferent’.(Brown,2000)
Theapproachofaparticularschoolisoftendependentonthepersonalviewsoftheprincipalandstaffoftheschool.
‘Itvariesalot–someschoolsarefullycommittedtoaChristianethosandothersaremorelaissezfaire–itdependsupontheprincipal’(Interview)
‘TheapproachtoChristianethosisoftendependentonthepersonalreligiousbeliefsoftheprincipal,butthereshouldbeanownershipbythewholeschoolcommunity.’(Interview)
‘IaminmythirdyearatthisschoolandIcameasPrincipal.MyobservationisthatthereisasignificantnumberofstaffwhohaveanevangelicalProtestantbackground.SadlythestaffisveryunderrepresentedwithRomanCatholicsandthosewehavedonotseemkeenonsharingtheirChurch'sfaithorpractice.Ifinditchallengingtointroduceandmaintainamorebalancedandfullyintegratedreligiousethos.Butthenleadershipischallenging.’(SurveyComment)
‘Someteachersareseenbyparentsasbeingtooreligious,butIampleasedthatthechildrencanexperiencedifferenceandIwouldlikeotherfaithstobeexploredmore.’(Interview)
‘HowdoyoumaintainaChristianethosifyourprincipalandstaffarenotpracticingChristians?Youcan’trequireit?’(Interview)
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ManyofthoseconsultedreferredtothechallengeofhavingaChristianethoswithinanincreasinglydiversesociety.‘Wealsospendafullmontheachyearexploringaworldfaithorculture.Wearekeenthatchildrenshoulddiscussaspectsofbelief,practiceorobservance.Weareawarethat20%ofparentsdonotwishtodeclareareligion,havenoneorareofanotherfaith.ItismypersonalviewthatthisgroupisnotproperlyrecognisedinthecontextofthedominantChristianethos.’(SurveyComment)‘YoucanhaveaverystrongChristianethosbutbeverywelcomingtootherfaithsaswell–exploringfaithtogetherisakeypartofintegrationinpractice.’(Interview)
‘Theyseemtohavemorechildrenfromotherworldfaithsanddoalotofdiversityworkintheschoolssuchasintegratingfestivalsintothelifeandworshipoftheschool–ithasbeendonewell.IwonderhowthisapproachwouldbereceivedinaControlledSchool–peopleexpectitinanintegratedschool.’(Interview)
Severalschoolshighlightedthechallengeofapproachingreligioninthecontextofnotjustanincreaseindifferentfaithsbutalsoanincreaseinsecularismandatheism.TheSummaryofEnrolmentsatIntegratedSchoolsbyReligion2007‐2008(NICIE,2008)indicatesabreakdownofpupilsbyreligionas:
• 42% Protestant• 39% RomanCatholic• 5% OtherChristian• 1% NonChristianFaith• 13% Other
Intervieweescommentedontheincreaseinpeopleofnofaith:‘Increasinglyourstudentswoulddesignatethemselvesasafaithgroupbutnotparticipateinorunderstandthatfaiththeyareculturalidentities.HoweveraperceptionwouldbethatProtestantgroupsarequickertoredesignateas‘other’thanCatholiccounterparts.Pupilsincreasinglynoteinsurveysthattheywantlessovertreligioninmassmeetings.’(SurveyComment)‘Withthegrowthofasecularcommunity…wehavenoticedatrendtowardsoptingoutofRE.Religionisplayingadifferentrolethesedaysasparentsarenotasinterestedinit.’(SurveyComment)‘Whenwesaythatweareanintegratedschoolforallfaithsandnone,thereispotentialtobemadeuncomfortable.GenuineAtheistsandAgnosticscanbeleftout.’(SurveyComment)
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InresponsetothechangesinNorthernIrelandsociety,during2007/2008NICIEhasbeencarryingoutaconsultationonareviewoftheStatementofPrinciples,whichincludedarephrasingofthesectiononChristianethosto‘Theintegratedschool,whileessentiallyChristianincharacterisopentothoseofallfaithsandnone…’(NICIE,March2008)
TheconsultationraisedsomedebateabouttheappropriatenessofaChristianethosinmanyschools.However,therewasnosignificantcallforthistoberemoved.
‘ChristianethosintheNICIEStatementofPrinciplesisacontentiousissueamongstaff,butweliveinapredominantlyChristiansocietyandourcatchmentareaispredominantlyChristiansowhyshouldn’twehaveaChristianethos?Parentstakethisintoconsiderationwhencomparinguswithotherschools.OfcourseitdependsonwhatyoumeanbyChristianethos–somepeopleassociateitwithchurchesratherthanvalues.Forusit’sanawarenessofspiritualityandapromotionofvaluesofunderstanding,caring,tolerance,respectandequality.’(Interview)
‘IntherecentNICIEconsultationonupdatingtheprinciples,therewasnogreatdesiretochangetheChristianethos…thereisnodriveforseculareducationinNorthernIreland.’(Interview)
‘ThefeedbackfromtheNICIEStatementofPrinciplesReviewConsultationwasthataverysmallminoritywereopposedtoaChristianethos.’(Interview)
However,therearevoiceswithinintegratedschoolscallingforamoresecularapproach:‘Howimportantisthisissuetotheschools?Intheearlydaysthereligiousdimensionwasveryimportant…adecadelateritappearstobenolongerapriority–otherthingsaremoreimportant.’(Interview)‘Someofthefoundersofourschoolwantednoreligionintheschool’(Interview)‘MyobservationsmostlyrelatetoanuneasewiththeapparentgrowthoffaithschoolsinEnglandandthedisappointingawarenessthatthisdescriptionmaywellbeappliedtoourintegratedi.e.Christianschools.Imustadmitthat,whenIfirstbecameinvolved,IwasnaiveenoughtobelievethatIwouldbehelpingtoworktowardstrueequalityofintegrationbetweenallpeoples.Ofcoursewepaylipservicetothisidealbut,infact,ourschoolsaredominatedbyexternalinfluencefromtheChristianchurches,withparticularprivilegeextendedtotheCatholicvariety…IsuspectthatitwasfeltthattheonlywaytheintegratedmovementcouldgetitselfupandrunninginNorthernIrelandwasbygivingcredencetotheChristianchurches.PerhapssobutIthinkwemighthavebeenbettertohavebittenthebulletandanticipatedtheexampleofoursisterbodyintheSouthbyadoptingasecularapproach.’(EmailfromaSchoolGovernor)
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Therearealsosomeperceptionsthatintegratedschoolsaresecularintheirapproach.Commentsincluded:‘Theremightbeaperceptionthatintegratededucationfavoursseculareducation’(Interview)
“Insomeintegratedschoolstheparentsdrivingitareangryatthechurchesandcanbequiteantichurch.’(Interview)
‘SomeclergyhaveaperceptionthatintegratedschoolsarenotstronglyChristianschools,thattheyareneutralorbelieveeverythingandanything,butthat’snotfairbecausetheirprinciplesarequiteclear.’(Interview)
Severaloftheschoolsconsultedexpressedadesiretofurtherdeveloptheirpolicyandpracticesinrelationtofaithissues:
‘Wewouldbekeentodevelopmorelinkswithchurches,tovisitmorechurchesandmostofalltohaveclergyvisitourschool.Otherschoolsseemtobelinkedcloselywithaparticularministerorpriestwewouldappreciatemoreclergyinvolvement.’(SurveyComment)
‘AftertwentyyearsthereareanumberofintegratedprimaryschoolssoaswetakeonmoreofamultifaithcultureitwouldbegoodtoexaminetheChristianethosmore.’(SurveyComment)
‘Wewouldbeveryinterestedtoknowhowtofundachaplaintofurtherourrelationshipwiththechurches.’(SurveyComment)
(b)Conclusions
ThemajorityofintegratedschoolsindicateintheirprospectusormissionstatementthattheyhaveaChristianethos.Mostoftheschoolsdescribetheirschool’sapproachtoreligionaseither“allfaithsandnone”orChristian.ThisreflectsanapproachthatisprimarilyChristian,butthatincludesarecognitionofpeopleofdifferentfaithsaswellaspeopleofnoreligiousfaith.Theapproachofaparticularschoolisoftendependentonthepersonalviewsoftheprincipalandstaffoftheschool.
ManyofthoseconsultedreferredtothechallengeofhavingaChristianethoswithinanincreasinglydiversesocietyandinthecontextofanincreaseinsecularismandatheism.However,therecentreviewofNICIE’sStatementofPrinciplesdidnotrevealademandforseculareducation.
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6.2Practice
(a) ChristianEthosinPractice
WhenaskedhowschoolsreflectedaChristianethosinpractice,themainresponsesfromrespondentswereasfollows:
• Assemblies: 45%• RE/Curriculum: 30%• Values/moralcode: 22%• Pastoralcare/caring: 18%• Respect/Tolerance: 19%
SomeschoolshaveputconsiderableenergyandattentionintohowtheyworkouttheirChristianethosinpracticeinawaythatisinclusiveofallthechildrenattheschool.‘ManyIntegratedSchoolsfaceuptoChristianethosinamorerigorouswaythanControlledSchoolswhereit’stakenforgranted.Theyhavetothinkouttheirethosandgatherconsensusonissuesandtheyseetherightofthechildrenandparentstobeconsulted…theyspenttimeandmoneyondevisingacurriculumfornonCatholicchildrentodowhenCatholicchildrenaredoingsacramentalpreparation.It’scalled‘DelvingDeeper’andit’sgoodstuff.’(Interview)
Insomeschoolsthisincludesawarenessofparentsorchildrenwhodonotwishtoparticipateinanyreligiousactofworship.Forexample:
‘WhenthereareprayersinAssemblychildrenofnoreligionareallowedtowithdrawfromtheAssemblyHall...sopeoplefromahumanistbackgroundarerespectedaswell.’(Interview)‘WeteachChristianityasthemainreligionlookingatallthemaindenominations.Childrenwhohavehumanist/atheistviewsetcmaybeifdesired,withdrawnfromRE.’(SurveyComment)
(b)ReligiousEvents
Theschoolsconsultedindicatedtheyhadmarkedthefollowingreligiouseventsintheirschoolinthepastyear:• CarolService/Nativity 93%• HarvestService 68%• Easter 43%• Sacraments(firstcommunion,confirmation,confession) 20%• AshWednesday 14%• Mass 14%• StPatrick’sDay 14%• RemembranceDay 7%
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OthereventstakingplaceinasmallnumberofschoolsincludedDiwali‐HinduFestivalofLightsandavarietyofspecialassemblies.
Whenaskedwhichreligiousactivitiestakeplaceintheschool,respondentsindicatedthefollowing:
• Weeklyreligiousassemblies 86%
• Dailyprayers 39%
• Faithbasedextracurricularclubs/activities 30%
• Dailyreligiousassemblies 27%
• Otherreligiousactivities 14%
Whenasked‘Whatpercentageofyourschoolassembliesincludeareligiousdimension?
• 57%ofrespondentssaid100%• 20%ofrespondentssaidbetween50‐99%• 14%ofrespondentssaidbetween20‐40%
(c) Contentious Religious Events
Whenaskedthequestion‘Havetherebeenanyreligiouseventsinyourschoolwhichhaveprovedcontentious?
• 70%ofrespondentssaid‘No’• 27%ofrespondentssaid‘Yes’Examplesoftheeventsthathadprovedcontentiousincluded:‘WeinvitedinatravellingBibleshow.ParentscomplainedbecauseapackincludingtheNewTestamentwashandedtoallthechildrenbutinsidetheNewTestamentwasasalesflyerpromotingthisparticularreligiousgroup.’‘StPatrick’sDayCelebrationslastyearwereseenascontentiousbyasmallgroupofparents.TheyfeltitwastoomuchofaCatholiccelebration’‘FollowingaBaptistpresentationwherethekidsdressupandtastefoodfromBiblicaltimesandlistentoBiblicalstories,asmallminorityofparentsobjected.’‘Wehavehadafewdifficultsituationsinvolvingseparatedparentswithdifferentviewsonreligion.’
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‘WeprovidedanopportunityforCatholicchildrentoobservethePope’sdeathbywatchinghisfuneralontelevisionandobjectionswereraisedbysomeProtestantparents.’‘Asatransformingschooleverythingwascontentiousforsomebodyintheinitialyears,suchasAshWednesday.Therewasafearoftheunknown,notpartofonegroup’sidentity,outsidetheircomfortzone…thelistisendless.’‘ThepastAshWednesdayweidentifiedanddiscussedissuesanditisnowwellplannedandworkingwell.’
(d)PolicyonReligiousSymbols
Inresponsetothequestion‘Whatisyourschool’spolicyonthedisplayofreligioussymbols?’therewasawiderangeofresponses.
• 30%ofrespondentsdidnothaveapolicyorwereintheprocessofdevelopingone
• 27%ofrespondentshadan‘openpolicy’inthatallreligious
symbolscouldbedisplayed
• 16%ofrespondentsdidnotpermitthedisplayofanyreligioussymbols
• 16%ofrespondentshadapolicyofonlydisplayingreligious
symbolsinaclassroomsettingsuchasanREclass
Therangeofresponsesincludedthefollowing: ‘Aswithotheraspectsofschoollife,balanceisseenasimportant:i.e.ifonefaithhasasignificantdisplaythisimpliesabalancingrecognitionoftheothermainfaith.’‘WedisplayaCrossandBible,picturesoftheLastSupperandaPapalBlessing.Theseweredecidedonfollowingconsultation.’‘WehaveaMaytableandanadventwreath.’‘Weareopentothedisplayofreligioussymbolsintermsofeducatingthechildrenandasasignofrespectforindividualbelief.’‘ChristiansymbolsarevisiblearoundcampusincludingseasonalsymbolssuchasAdventWreath,crib,LentenCrossandposters.Noflags,emblems,badgesorjewelleryetcofaperceivedsectariannatureareallowed.PoppiesareallowedtobewornaroundRemembranceDaywithanassemblygivingtheirmeaning.’
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(e)Conclusions
The main ways in which integrated schools reflect their ChristianethosisthroughAssemblies,theRECurriculumandpromotingvaluessuchasrespect,toleranceandcaring.Themajorityoftheschoolshaveweekly assemblies and over half of the schools include a religiousdimensioninallassemblies.
The two main religious occasions celebrated in the majority ofintegratedschoolsareCarol/NativityServicesandHarvestServices.Some schools have put considerable energy and attention into howthey work out their Christian ethos in practice in a way that isinclusiveofallthechildrenattheschool.
Most integratedschoolshavenothada religiousevent in the schoolthatprovedtobecontentious.Whereeventshaveprovedcontentiousthishasusuallyinvolvedcomplaintsbyasmallnumberofparents.
Mostschoolseitherhavenopolicyoranopenpolicyonthedisplayofreligioussymbols.
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7 ExamplesofPractice
Inthissectionofthereportanumberofexamplesofpracticearepresentedtopromotelearninginotherschools.
7.1 DrumraghIntegratedCollege
WithinitsMissionStatementDrumraghIntegratedCollegeinOmaghsaysthecollegeaimsto:
‘Embracethoseofdiversereligiousbeliefsandnone,whilstbuildingonaChristianethos.’
Theschooldefinesitsapproachtointegrationasfollows:
‘Integrationcreatesapositivelearningenvironmentwherestudentsgrowtogetherinreasonablybalancednumbersfromthetwomajortraditionsand,equally,reflectingthemanydiverseculturesthatlivewithinNorthernIrelandtoday.Thekeyaimsofintegrationinvolvetheprovisionofthehighestpossiblequalityofeducationforeachstudentandthefosteringofaninclusivelearningcommunitywhereallfeelwelcomed,valuedandinspiredtoexcel.DrumraghIntegratedCollegeisbasedonChristianvalues,whilstembracingdiversebeliefsandnone,andwepromotetheworthandselfesteemofallindividualswithinthecollegecommunity.Thecollegestronglyseekstobothdevelopandupholdrespectforoneselfandothers.
Integrationinvolves:
• Qualityeducationforall,includingthegiftedandtalented,themoreableandthosewithspecialneedsofanykind
• Embracingdifferenceanddiversity,includingthemainculturaltraditionsinNorthernIrelandandthosefromotherpartsoftheworld
• Childcentreeducation• Mutualrespect• Encouragingstudentstoactivelyhelpeachother• Celebratingtheachievementsofourstudents,whethertheyare
academic,sporting,practicalorcreative• Recognisingeffortaswellasachievement,andthepersonalbestofeach
individual• FosteringthegrowthofeachpersonwithinaChristianethoswhilstfully
embracingthoseofdiversereligiousbeliefsandnone• Strivingtoensurethatourstudentsfeelconfident,valuedandhappy
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Inpracticethecollegehasdevelopedgoodrelationshipswithlocalchurchesandanapproachtoreligionthatisvaluedbylocalclergy:
‘ThefourmainchurchesareinvitedtotakepartinspecialassembliessuchasHarvest,Christmas,EasterandAshWednesday…theyhavetalkedtousabouttheideaofputtingachaplaincyserviceinplaceandthereisawillingnesstoexplorethis…I’vealwaysenjoyedgoinginandfeelwelcomed.Theassembliesareverywellputtogetherandthereisadesireandwillingnesstoinvolveallofthechurches.’(Interview)
Theschoolhasintroducedaneducationalandmutualunderstandingdimensionaroundthecelebrationofreligiouseventsthataremorecloselyassociatedwithoneorothertradition.
‘ForspecialoccasionswetrytohaveaProtestant/CatholicbalanceforexampleAshWednesdayandLentandHarvestandRemembrance.Wewanttoincreaserespect,understandingandanacceptancethatpeoplecanpracticetheirreligion.SowehavebuiltaneducationelementintotheprogrammebeforeeventssuchasexplainingthehistoryofthepoppyorAshWednesday.Thishasreducedthelevelofcontentionoversuchoccasionsandclergyfromallthemaintraditionsattendtheseservices’(Interview)
Forexample:
‘AtonestagewehadcompletesegregationonAshWednesdaybutaworkinggroupwasestablishedwhodiscussedthisatlengthandwedevelopedanewapproachthatwasallabouteducationbeforehandleadinguptothespecialassemblies.’(Interview)
TheCollegedevelopedthisapproachtoAshWednesday:
‘AshWednesdayisthedayLentbegins.LentisasignificantperiodintheChristiancalendarandmarkspreparationforEaster.Ashesareabiblicalsymbolofmourningandpenance.AshWednesdayisadaynotonlyforputtingashesonone'shead,butalsoadayoffasting.LentisaChristianserviceandallstudentsareencouragedtoreflectontheirownlifeandtothinkaboutothers.ItismainlyRomanCatholicshoweverwhocelebrateAshWednesdayandhavetheirforeheadsmarkedwiththecrossofpalmash.
ToensurethatallstudentsunderstandthemeaningofLentandtoencouragerespectforthosewhochoosetoreceiveandwearashesandthoseinCollegeandthosewhochoosenotto,thefollowingarrangementshavebeenputinplace:
1. Education–duringformclasstodiscussthemeaningofLentasaChristianServiceandthesignificanceofreceivingandwearingashes.Toleranceandrespectforallencouraged.
2. AshWednesdayService–
a. KeystageAssemblies–PD/formteachertoescortstudentstoGH.b. Whenpossibletheservicewillbeheldintheafternoon.
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c. Studentsfromalldenominationsattendtheservice.d. KeyStage4/5servicewillbeheldbeforeKeyStage3–older
studentstoactasrolemodels.e. Representativesfromthemainchurchesinvitedtoattendandto
speakattheservice.f. Readingsandpresentationstoencouragereflectionandto
explainthesignificanceandhistoryofwearing/receivingashes.g. StudentswishingtoreceiveAshesdosoinanorderlymanner.h. EveryonetoreflectonPowerPointpresentationandreflective
musicplayingduringthedistributionofashes.i. Studentsleavethehallinsilence.’
TheprincipalandstaffofDrumraghCollegebelievethisapproachhasbeenofgreatbenefittotheirstudents:
‘Ourstudentslovelearningabouteachother–sometimestheyjustsitandcomparewitheachothertheirdifferentreligiouspractices.’(Interview)
‘Weactivelyeducateourstudentsthatintherealworldeveryoneisnotthesamereligion.Ourstudentsarenotsegregated–theylearntogether.Theyarenotfrightenedtogivetheiropinionandtheyknowtheyareallowedtoaskquestionsandtheywontbeshutdown.’(Interview)
‘Wearemostproudoftheopennessandconfidenceofourstudentsregardingfaithissuesandspirituality.(Interview)
Commentsfromstudentsconfirmtheeffectivenessofthisapproach:
• WeusedtobesplitupforREattheintegratedprimaryschoolbutnowweareallintogether.Nowwelearnfromtheotherstudents–Ipreferitthisway.
• IntheAshWednesdayServiceeveryonegoesandyoudecideifyouwanttogoupornottoreceivetheashes.It’sthesamefortheRemembranceService–everyoneattendsandyoucanchoosewhetherornottowearapoppy.It’sgood…weareacceptingeachother’sculturesanditsgoodtolearnandexperiencethingsyouwouldn’tbeusedto.
• I’venevermetastudentwhowasn’thappyabouttheapproachtoreligionintheschool.
• Ifeelclergyareinterestedintheschool.I’veneverheardanynegativestufffromclergyaboutourschool.
• Everyonegetsonandyoucanchatopenlywithoutbeingcriticised.It’sjustacceptedit’syourreligionandit’sthesameforpeoplewhodon’thaveareligion.
• You’renottoldtobelieveanything–you’rejusttoldthedifferentviewpoints.
• Wedon’tjustlearnaboutChristians.WelearnaboutotherreligionslikeIslamaswellandsootherswhoaren’tChristiancanfeelpartoftheschool.
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7.2 MillenniumIntegratedPrimarySchool
MillenniumIntegratedPrimarySchoolwasopenedin2000.SincethentheschoolhasdevelopedaparticularlygoodworkingrelationshipwithabroadrangeofchurchesandhasdevelopedaclearapproachtoChristianethosinpractice.
TheparentfoundersoftheschoolexploredtheapproachtoethosinotherintegratedschoolsastheydevelopedMillennium.
‘Whentheparentsgroupwasstartingtheschoolwelookedatdifferentintegratedschoolsandtheyallseemedtoapproachreligiousethosinadifferentway.Someschoolslikedtodrawaveiloveritandjuststickwiththecurriculumwhileotherswanttoexplorereligiousdifference…someparentswantedthechildrentoexperiencedifferenceandotherparentswantedtoavoidthedivide.’(Interview)
Astheschooldevelopeditwasdecidedtotaketheapproachofexploringreligiousdifference.Theparentsgroupfacedstrongoppositiontotheestablishmentoftheschoolatfirstandweregratefulforthesupportoflocalclergy.
‘TheChurchofIrelandministercametoallthepublicmeetingsaboutstartingtheschool.Hewasverysupportiveandputusintouchwiththeotherministers.Hewassupportiveatpublicmeetingswhentheschoolwasunderattack...heofferedmoralsupport.’(Interview)
TheschoolisbasedintheCarryduffareawhichhasahighrateofinterchurchmarriagesandastronginterchurchgroupwithexistinggoodrelationshipsbetweentheparticipatingthechurches.Thisappearstohavecontributedtogoodrelationshipswithawiderrangeofchurches.
Theprincipalplacedapriorityondevelopinggoodworkingrelationshipswithlocalclergyatanearlystage:
‘Ispoketoallclergyseparatelybeforetheycamein,explainingthatweputanemphasisonGod’sloveandtheneedtobesensitivetochildrenfromdifferenttraditions.’(Interview)
‘Webelieveinbeingpreparedtorespondtoanyoverturesfromchurchesandwerespondwhenaskedforanyinformationforsaytheparishbulletin.’(Interview)
Asdifficultieshavearisenfromtimetotimethishasbeenregardedasanopportunitytobuildstrongerrelationships.
‘Ithasbeendifficultattimes,butwehavetriedtobehaveappropriatelywhendealingwithdifficultissuesandthishasdevelopedtrustwiththechurches.’(Interview)
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Asaresultlocalclergymadeverypositivecommentsregardingtheschool:
‘Therelationshipisexcellent.FromtheveryearlydayswewereaskedtotakeAssemblyandwehavebeeninvolvedeversince.WehavebeeninvolvedregularlyinAssemblies…andwehavebuiltgoodtrustandrespect…asministersweknowourboundariesandtrytotieinwiththecurriculum.’(Interview)
‘TheyprimarilyhaveaChristianethoswhichseemstobeworkedoutverystronglyalthoughit’salsocrosscultural.Thekeyissueisthepersonalrelationshipsandthetrustandrespectfordifferences.Itcomesfromthekeypeopleandpersonalities…theprincipalandstaffareexcellent.’(Interview)
Alllocalclergyareinvitedtocomeinonceatermtotakeanassembly.
TheschoolhasagoodrelationshipwithElim,BaptistandChurchofIrelandclergywhoregularlytakeassemblies.TheBaptistChurchpresents“TheAmazingJourney”aninteractivejourneythroughtheBible,childrenhavevisitedanexhibitionintheBrethrenHallandtheSalvationArmyhasbeeninvolvedintheP1DedicationService.
TheschoolalsohasanexceptionallygoodrelationshipwiththelocalCatholicparish.Theparishpriestisverysupportive,comesintotheschoolandtreatsthepupilsaschildrenoftheparishinthesamewayaschildrenattendingtheCatholicschools.ProtestantchildrenalsotakepartintheCatholicchildren’sFirstCommunionService.
‘AtMasstheparishpriestsayswehavethreeschoolsintheparish–includinguswiththeCatholicschools’(Interview)
‘InpreparationforthesacramentsMillenniumchildrenareinvitedtoamonthlymasswhichisorganisesbythethreeschools(twoCatholicschoolsandMillennium).IseeitasaparishpreparationnotaschoolpreparationandsoMillenniumareveryinvolved.Theyhavesmallernumbersbuttheyarewelcomedverywarmly…Confirmationisaparishcelebrationratherthanaschoolcelebration.Thechildrenusedtobeinschooluniformsbutwethoughtthatwasdivisive…thefolkgroupinvolveschildrenfromalltheschoolsandithasworkedoutverywell–itisagreatsuccess.It’saboutcherishingallthechildrenoftheparishequally...anditsgoodthatotherP4scometothefirstcommunionaswell.’(Interview)
‘WehaveanoutstandingrelationshipwiththeCatholicChurchhereitsbeentheoppositeofmyexperienceinanotherintegratedschool.Ourschoolismentionedasapartofthecommunity’(Interview)
TheschoolaccessedsupportfromNICIEtodevelopitsapproachtoREandChristianethos.TheydecidedthatchildrenshouldnotbeseparatedforRE.TheteachersprovidewholeclassteachingandthenworkinsmallgroupswheretheCatholicchildrendopreparationforsacramentsintheirsmallgroupandProtestantchildrenuse“DelvingDeeper”intheirsmallgroup.
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‘IamnothappywithdividedRE–thatdoesn’tfitwithourintegratedethos.’(Interview)
‘Alloftheteachersplanfortheirownclassusingthe‘AliveO’materials.ThisistaughttothewholeclassandthenwesplitintogroupswhentheCatholicchildrendothepreparationworkandtheProtestantchildrenuse“DelvingDeeper.’”(Interview)
7.3 LaganCollege
LaganCollegewasthefirstplannedintegratedschoolinNorthernIreland.Fromtheverybeginning,thecollegeplacedanemphasisonhavingaChristianethosandaspartofputtingthatethosintopractice,establishedasharedCatholic/ProtestantChaplaincy.
‘TheideaofachaplaincywaspartoftheoriginalvisionofthefoundersofLaganCollege.TheytookadecisionearlyontohaveastrongChristianethosasanoutworkingofProtestant/Catholicintegratedethos.’(Interview)
‘LaganCollegewasthefirstschoolcreatedaspartoftheAllChildrenTogetherMovementwhichsoughttoeducatechildrenfromalltraditionsinNorthernIrelandtogether.Althoughnotlinkedtoanyonedenominationorchurch,thecollegewascreatedwithastrongChristianethosandaprominentplaceforREwhichwouldbetaughttochildrentogether,ecumenically…Historicallythechurcheshadnotembracedintegratededucation,andLaganCollegewassetupinpartwithaviewtodemonstratingthatintegratededucationwasavalidexpressionofChristianeducation.Evenwithouttheseexpedientfactors,thefounderswereconvincedthecollegeshouldbeChristianinnature.
LaganCollegehassincesoughttobebroadinitsChristiannature(i.e.notassociatedwithaparticularexpressionofChristianity),andisnotprimarilyconcernedwithChristianCatechesis,althoughitdoessupport,encourageandprovidethisonoccasion,whereitisdesired.Thebreadthofapproachmeansthatthecollegeisnotaplacewhereanyoneshouldfeeluncomfortablewiththeirownbeliefsandalternativepointsofviewcanbeheldanddiscussed.Christianfaithisnotsoughtasaconditionforadmission,employmentorassociation.Itishopedthateveryoneassociatedwiththecollegewouldhaveanunderstandingofitsethosandbebroadlysupportiveofit.PeopleofallfaithsandnonearewelcomeintheCollege.’(LaganCollege,March2007)
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Theapproachhasdevelopedovertheyears:
‘Inthefirsttenyearsinterestedclergy(includingaCatholicsister)cameintolookaftertheirownflockandtheymetinseparaterooms…howeverin1992aftermuchfundraisingtwofulltimechaplainswereappointed.’(Interview)
Theroleofthetwofulltimechaplainshasalsodeveloped:
‘AProtestantandCatholicChaplainareappointedbyGovernorstoworkasateamtoprovidespiritual,denominationalandpastoralcare.ThefacilitiesoftheChaplaincyareavailabletoallthestaffandstudentsofthecollege,ofalldenominationsandfaiths,andofnone.TheChaplainsareresponsibleforplanningandcoordinatingassemblies,involvingstaffandstudentsasmuchaspossible.HonoraryChaplainsfromvariousChristiandenominationsvisitperiodically,speakingatassembliesandmeetingwiththefulltimechaplains.Denominationalcare(e.g.preparationforsacraments)isprovided,attherequestofparents.’(LaganCollege,2008)
InpracticetheChaplaincyisinvolvedinarangeofactivities:
‘TheChaplaincyplaysaprominentpartinCollegelife.TheChaplainstakeajointecumenicalapproach,workingtogetherwhereverpossible.Aswellaspastoralcareofstaffandstudents,theChaplainscoordinatecollectiveworshipatassemblies.Thetoneofassembliesisintendedtobewelcomingandinclusiveandcanbeledbychaplains,membersofstaff,studentsandvisitingspeakers,includingHonoraryChaplainsfromvariousChristiandenominations.’(LaganCollege,March2007)
‘ThevariousaspectsoftheworkoftheChaplaincycanbelooselydividedintothespiritual,thepastoral,thedenominational,theintegrative,thesocialandtheadministrative.Theseoverlapinvariousandinterestingwaysinanyoneday,whetherwithintheChaplaincy‘hut’,aroundtheschool,intheclassroom,inthestaffroom,intheAssemblyHall,orwhetherwithstudents,colleagues,parents,pastpupilsorvisitors.’(LaganCollegeChaplaincy,2008)
Thisincludesworship,mainlythroughassemblies:
‘ThethemesforthelargerAssembliesfollowedtheseasonsoftheChurchYear,interspersedwithissuesofglobalandlocalconcern.SuchAssembliesareoftenlinkedwithfundraisingorcampaigningthroughouttheschool(seesectiononFundraising).RepresentativesfromChristianAid,TrocaireandConcerncametothelargeAssembliesatappropriatetimesthroughouttheyear.
WhileChristianthemesarestillthemainfocusinourschoolworship,weareincreasinglyawareoftheneedtoincludereferencetoandexplanationofparticularfeastsandcustomsofotherfaithtraditions.Thisyear,wehighlightedtheincreasinglymulticulturalnatureofourschoolcommunity.
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Throughouttheyear,staffmembersandstudentswereinvolvedinreadings,prayers,drama,music,lightandsound,andvisualtechnology.
Theusual‘special’extendedAssembliesatHarvest,Remembrance,Christmas,AshWednesday,andHolyWeekwereheldduringtheschoolday.ClimateChangewasthethemeofourHarvestAssemblyandthe“harvestofcoins”wasgiventothevictimsofthefloodinginAfrica,throughChristianAid.AspecialaspectofRemembrancethisyearwasthefocusontheBlitzinBelfastaswellasanoverviewofthehistoryoftheTroubles.Staffmemberssharedtheirownexperiencesandfamilymemories.TheChristmasAssemblyhadaspecialemphasisonhowChristmasiscelebratedinthehomecountriesofsomeofourstudents,e.g.SouthAfrica,IndiaandPoland.OurHolyWeekAssemblyfocusedonthesymbolsassociatedwithHolyThursday,GoodFriday,HolySaturdayandEasterSunday.Theuseofphotographsofthesesymbolsinvariousplacesthroughouttheschool,aswellastheactualsymbolsusedduringtheAssembly,gavefoodforthought.’(LaganCollegeChaplaincy,2008)
TheChaplainsalsoarrangeaseriesofvisitstochurches.Forexample,eachYear8classvisitsaCatholicandaProtestantChurch.OvertheyearstheChaplainshavemadecontactwithmorethan20churches.
Theroleofthechaplainsalsoincludesapastoraldimension:
ThechaplainscomplementtheroleofthePastoralTeamsbyprovidinga"dropin"facilityforallstudentsonadailybasis,atbreakandlunchtime.’(LaganCollege,2008)
‘TheChaplaincycontinuestobeasafeplaceforallstudentsandstaffofwhateverreligiousbackgroundorofnone.TheChaplainsareprivilegedtobeinvitedintothelivesofothers,sharingtheirjoysandsorrows…The‘dropin’facilityatbreakandlunchtimewasusedonadailybasis.Oftenbothroomsareusedsimultaneously.Moreformalonetooneappointmentsweremadewithstudentsgoingthroughadifficulttime,suchasbereavement,separationofparents,illnessinthefamily,bullying,conflictwithfriends,etc.DifficultyinmakingthetransitiontosecondaryschoolcanbeabigissueforsomeYear8students.Itisarealprivilegewhenstudentsaskustopraywithandforthemandtheirfamilies.IncreasinglyparentshavemadecontactwiththeChaplaincymainlyforpastoralreasons,throughphonecallsandvisits.ThelinkwiththeParents’CounciliskeptthroughSrAnne’sregularattendanceatthemonthlymeetings,duringwhichshekeepstheminformedabouttheworkoftheChaplaincy.’(LaganCollegeChaplaincy,2008)
‘Aschaplainsformanystudentswearethefaceofthechurch.’(Interview)
TheCatholicChaplainalsoprovidesdenominationalcare:
‘PreparationofstudentsfortheSacramentofConfirmationhasalwaysbeenpartofSrAnne’swork.Thisusuallytakesplaceafterschooloratlunchtime.Overthelasttenyears,over40studentshavebeenpreparedfor
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Confirmation.AfewofthesewerealsopreparedforBaptismandHolyCommunion.’(LaganCollegeChaplaincy,2008)
Thechaplaincyisalsoactiveinpromotingintegration,reconciliationandjusticeissues:
‘OurChristianEthosseekstodeveloptheCollegeasaplaceofreconciliation.Forgivenessandcompassionarepracticedasameansofdevelopingthewholeperson.ReconciliationinvolvesremovingbarriersbetweenallthosewhoshareCollegelife,thuspeopleareequippedtobringreconciliationacrossthedivisionsacrosstheworld.’(LaganCollege,March2007)
‘IntegrationisattheheartoftheChaplaincyandneedstopermeateeveryaspectofschoollife.ThefactthatLaganCollegewasfoundedwiththespecificintentionofbreakingdownthe‘dividingwalls’ofhostilityandignoranceinNorthernIrelandremainsafoundingimperativeandinspiration.ThechoicetobeaChristianschoolisalsocentraltothisfoundingspirit.Theprocessofintegratingincludesotherareasofdiversitysuchasability,specialneeds,gender,andtheincreasinggrowthindiversityofreligionandculture.Withtheconstantchangesinsociety,theimprovedsituationinNorthernIrelandandthedemandsofaneverchangingeducationalpolicy,itisimportantthatissuesofintegrationarekepttothefore.Theintegrationwedesireforourstudentsmustbemodeledamongstaff.NowthattheStormontAssemblyhasbeenupandrunningforayear,thereisanewclimateofhopeandconfidence.Yetthewoundsofhurtanddivisionrundeep,andthewallsofseparationstillstand.Thereisstillmuchworktobedoneandmanybridgestobebuiltacrossthecontinuingdivide…
TheraisingofawarenessofjusticeissuesisveryimportantintheworkoftheChaplaincy.ThisconcernisexpressedintheAssemblies,throughfundraising,andinparticularthroughtheJusticeGroup,madeupofYear13and14studentswhocometotheChaplaincyeachTuesdayatlunchtime.Thegroupfocusesmainlyonglobalissues...SchoolsAcrossBorders(SAB)wasanewandexcitinginitiativeintroducedtoSixthFormstudentsthroughtheChaplaincy.NineYear14studentsavailedoftheopportunitytolinkwithschoolsinIsraelandPalestineaswellaswithschoolsintheNorthandSouthofIreland.’(LaganCollegeChaplaincy,2008)(LaganCollegeChaplaincy,2008)
Todate,LaganCollegehasbeentheonlyintegratedschoolinNorthernIrelandtodevelopafulltimechaplaincyofthiskind.Afewschoolsconsultedinthesurveyexpressedaninterestindevelopingafulltimechaplaincybuttheysawalackoffundingforthisasthemainbarrier.
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In2008,LaganCollegecelebrated25years10ofitschaplaincywithabookletthatstated:
‘Prayershavebeenspoken,debateshaveragedandsilencehasbeenkept.Conversationsanddialogueshavetakenplace,someleadingtogreaterunderstandingbetweenpeople,someleadingtoreconciliation.ThereisnodoubttheChaplaincyisaspecialplace.’(Killick,2008)
7.4 MillStrandIntegratedPrimarySchool
MillStrandIntegratedPrimarySchoolinPortrushrecentlycelebratedits20thAnniversary.Toreflecttheethosoftheschool,itwasdecidedtoorganiseaspecialanniversaryeventwithaspiritualdimension,alongsidetheother20thAnniversarycelebrations.
Theschooldecidedtodevelopa‘WalkingCarolService’.ThisinvolvedatorchlightwalkandcandlelitCarolServicebetweentheRomanCatholicandChurchofIrelandchurchesinPortrush.Thelocalclergywereapproachedandagreedtofacilitatetheevent.
ThechildrenfromMillStrandmetfirstlyinStPatrick’sRomanCatholicChurchinPortrushforacandlelitCarolService.Followingtheservicethechildrenthenwalkedtogether,singingcarolsandcarryingtorches,throughthecentreofPortrushtotheChurchofIrelandChurch.TheChurchofIrelandRectorwelcomedthechildrenatthedoorofthechurchandthechildrensangacaroloutsidebeforeenteringthechurchhall.ThechildrenandtheirfamiliesthenhadrefreshmentstogetherintheChurchofIrelandhallandtherewasalsoacharitycollectiontosupportaprojectinMalawi.
Followingthesuccessoftheevent,theschoolisplanningtodevelopitfurtherinthefuturetoincludestopsduringthetorchlightwalktosingcarolsoutsideotherchurchesinthemainstreetenroutebetweenthetwochurches.
PositivefeedbackontheeventhighlightedtheuniquenatureofthewalkingcarolserviceasapublicsymbolofreconciliationinPortrush.
‘TheWalkingCarolServicewasverysymbolic.Itmadepeopleconfronttheprincipleofintegrationratherthanignoreit…itwasveryvisible,verytangible…Therewassomethingveryspecialaboutthatexperience–itwasverypowerfulforthechildrenanditwaspowerfulforusasparentswhoarenonchurchgoers.’(Interview)
10DuringthistimeLaganCollegehasbeenawardedboththeTempletonAwardandtheCoventryCrossofNails
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7.5 OakgroveIntegratedPrimarySchool
AsanexpressionofitsChristianethos,OakgroveIntegratedPrimarySchoolinDerry/LondonderryhasdevelopedaspecialannualP7assembly.TheassemblycelebratestheCatholicchildrenwhohavemadeconfirmation.ItalsocelebratesthepracticeofchildrenofProtestantandotherfaithsandcelebratesthetalentsofthechildrenofallfaithsandnone.
Parentsareinvitedtotheassembly.Catholicchildrenwhohavemadeconfirmationweartheirconfirmationclothesandtheotherchildrenweartheirschooluniforms.
TheCatholicchildrenexplainthemeaningofconfirmation,theProtestantchildrentalkabouttheirchurchesandotherssuchasMormonsandHindusexplaintheirfaith.Thechildrenwhodonotpracticeareligiousfaithtalkabouttheiruniquetalents.Thechildren,parentsandstaffspreadoutaroundroomandsinghymnstogether.
Theschooldescribestheeventas“anovertcelebrationofdifference”.
BelowisthescriptforarecentP7AssemblyatOakgrove.
OakgroveIntegratedPrimarySchoolP7Assembly
‘Child
WewouldliketowelcomeyoualltoourPrimary7Assembly.Aseveryoneknowsourschoolisanintegratedschool,whichwelcomes,respectsandcherisheschildrenofallfaithsandnone.ItiscommittedtoeducatingProtestantandCatholicchildrentogetherandtohelpingusalltounderstandandlearnmoreaboutourdifferenttraditionsaswellaslearningaboutthingsthatbindustogether.Wewouldliketoinviteyoualltojoinwithusinsinging:“Together”.
Child(NonConfirmation)
OnSaturday**May,ourRomanCatholicfriendswereconfirmed.TheSacramenttookplaceinSt.OliverPlunkettChurch,Strathfoyle.Someofus,theirfriends,wenttowatchthisimportantceremony.
Child(NonConfirmation)
ConfirmationisheldbyallChristianChurcheswhichbaptisebabies.WhatisimportantinallchurchesisthatthepersonbeingconfirmedwantstomaketheirownpromiseaboutbeingaChristiansothattheymakeagain(orconfirm)thepromiseswhichweremadeforthemwhentheywerebabies.NowsomeofourCatholicfriendswilltellyouabouttheirConfirmation.
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Child(Confirmation)
TheceremonyofconfirmationintheCatholicChurchbeginswitharenewalofourbaptismalvows.Duringourconfirmation,BishopHegartysignedourforeheadswithacrossandsaid,“BesealedwiththegiftoftheHolySpirit”.TheHolySpiritwillnowremainconstantlywithusasweworkwithotherpeopleinourcommunitytomaketheworldabetterplaceforustolivein.DuringConfirmationBishopHegartyprayedthattheHolySpiritwouldpouroutgiftsofLoveuponus.
Child(Confirmation)
ThegiftoftheHolySpirithelpsusindifferentwaysthroughoutourlivestoworkforGod’sKingdomonEarth.TheHolySpiritgaveusthesegifts:
Child
TheGiftofWisdom
ThisisthegiftofseeingthingsasGodseesthem.
Child
TheGiftofUnderstanding
ThisisthegiftofrealisinghowtoloveGodandothersasJesusdidandothersasJesusdid.
Child
TheGiftofRightJudgement
Thisisthegiftofknowingwhattodoindifficultsituations.
Child
TheGiftofCourage
Thisisthegiftofbeingabletocarryoutwhatweknowisrightdespiteopposition.
Child
TheGiftofKnowledge
ThisisthegiftofknowingandlovingGodtheFatherandJesus.
Child
TheGiftofReverence
ThisisthegiftoflovingandreverencingGodasJesusdid.
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Child
TheGiftofWonderandAweinGod’sPresence
ThisisthegiftofknowingtheholinessofGodandthefearoflosingHislove.
Child
ThesegiftsoftheHolySpiritbearfruitinourlives.ThismeansthatotherscanseetheeffectsoftheHolySpiritinourlives,inourwork,inourfamiliesandinthewaywetreatothers.ThefruitsoftheHolySpiritare:
Child
Love
WhenwetrytoliveourlivesfullofloveforGodandforothers.
Child
Joy
WhenwetrytobefullofjoybecauseofGod’sgoodnesstous.
Child
Peace
WhenwetrytoliveinpeacewithGodandwithpeoplearoundus.
Child
Kindness
Whenwetrytobekindtothosearoundus.
Child
Patience
Whenwetrytobepatientwiththosearoundus.
Child
Goodness
Whenwetrytoputtheneedsofothersfirst.
Child
Faithfulness
Whenwearetrueandfaithfultothosearoundus.
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Child
Gentleness
Whenwetrytobegentlewithotherpeople.
Child
SelfControl
Whenwetrytohaveselfcontrolandcontrolourtemper.
Child
DuringtheserviceofenrolmentwhichtookplaceinSt.Columb’sChurch,ChapelRoadwesang“WearetheGreatest”.
Child
ProtestantChurchesalsoholdservicesofConfirmation,buttheyusuallytakeplacewhentheiryoungerpeoplearealittleolder.IntheChurchofIreland,confirmationtakesplaceintheearlyteenyearswhentheyoungpersonisoldenoughtoanswerforhimselforherself.ItalsoinvolvesthelayingonofhandsbyaBishopanditisalsotaughtthatthepersonbeingconfirmedreceivesthegiftoftheHolySpirit.
Child
InthePresbyterianChurches,membersarenotconfirmedinthesameway.Admissiontoreceivecommunionisopentoyoungpeopleintheirmidteens.TheymustshowapersonalcommitmenttotheChristianfaith.TheymaybereceivedintothemembershipoftheChurchataspecialservice,whichisaboutaweekbeforetheirfirstcommunion.
Child
IntheMethodistChurch,childrenbecomefullmembersofthechurchwhentheyareteenagers.
Theyareencouragedtochoosemembershipthemselves.Attheageof25,theymaytakepartinaservicetobecomefullmembers.Fromthispointonwards,theycantakecommunion.
Child
JehovahWitnessesdonotmakeconfirmation,butweregularlyattendmeetingswherewelearnaboutGodandhowtheycanbecomeclosetohim.
Child
TheApostolicChurchpractisesthesacramentsofBaptismbyimmersion,theLord’sPrayerandCommunion.Theserviceitselfcomprisesofworship,prayerandteaching.
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Child
IntheChurchofJesusChristofLatterDaySaints,webelievethatyoumusthavefaithinJesusChristandunderstandtheprincipleofRepentancethatJesusChristatonedforoursins.Attheageof8,wemaybebaptisedbyaman,whoholdstheofficeofapriestoranelderintheHolypriesthood.WereceivethegiftoftheHolyGhostbyamanwhoholdstheMelchizedekPriesthoodandifweliveourlivesright,theHolyGhostwillalwaysbewithusasashieldandprotectionagainstevil.TheHolyGhostwillbearwitnesstousbyawarmfeelinginourheartsandwillgivepeacetoourmindswhenwearetaughtthetruthsofJesusChrist.
Child
AllChristianswhetherProtestantsorCatholic,believethatthemostimportantthinginlifeistotryandfollowtheteachingsofJesusandtobecomethepeoplehewantsustobe.LetuscloseoureyesandsaytogethertheprayerthatJesustaughtusall:
OurFather…’
7.6 KilbroneyControlledIntegratedPrimarySchool
KilbroneyisaControlledIntegratedPrimarySchoolinRostrevorthathasbeenthroughtheprocessoftransformation.TheschoolhasbeensuccessfulindevelopingapositiveworkingrelationshipwithandbetweenCatholicandProtestantclergyandtheschool.
Theserelationshipshavedevelopedovertheyears,sincetheearlydayswhentheschoolfirsttransformed.AtfirsttheschoolexperiencedareticencefromCatholicclergy,similartothatexperiencedinotherpartsofNorthernIreland.
‘TheCatholicChurchwasnotveryencouragingtoparentsatfirstandtherewasvirtuallynoinvolvementbutthishaschangealotoverthepasttenyears…interactionwiththeCatholicChurchhasimprovedalot.’(Interview)
Howevertherelationshipimprovedthroughtheinfluenceofsupportiveclergyandapositiveapproachbytheschool.
‘Intheearlydaysaftertransformation,CatholicparentsorganisedpreparationforFirstCommunionbutthenaCatholicteacherwiththeCatholicCertificatewasappointedandsincethenwehavebeentreatedlikeanyotherschool.’(Interview)
‘TheCatholicparishacceptsus.’(Interview)
‘TheBishoptreatsusliketheotherschoolsinRostrevorandweareincluded.’(Interview)
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Itisnowconsiderednormalfortheparishpriesttovisittheschool.
‘IwouldgoinmyselfafewtimesatermandIwouldgointoAssembly.ThereisadedicatedCatholicteacherwhotakespreparationforthesacraments.Iworkalongwithherandshedoesagoodjob.’(Interview)
However,theCatholicpolicyonnotnominatingCatholicrepresentativestotheBoardofGovernorsontransformationpreventsanyformalroleinsharedgovernanceoftheschool.
‘TheBishopwasaskedtonominatetwoCatholicrepresentativesfortheBoardofGovernorsbuthehasnevernominated,sothereisnoformalCatholicrepresentative.HowevertheChurchofIrelandtransferorswentoutoftheirwaytoinvitetwoCatholicsontotheboardofGovernorsinstead.’(Interview)
OntransformationsomeProtestantparentswereconcernedandsomeparentswhohadchosentheschoolbecausetheydidn’twantaCatholicinfluencealsoexpressedconcern.
However,theChurchofIrelandhasastronghistoricconnectiontotheschoolsandthiswasmaintainedfollowingtransformation.TwoChurchofIrelandclergysitontheBoardofGovernors,visittheschool,takeassembliesandtakeaparticularinterestintheschool.
‘TheChurchofIrelandroleiswelcomedbythegovernors–theyarenottryingtopushAnglicanismontotheschool.’(Interview)
TheCatholicandProtestantclergyco‐operateinrelationtotheschoolandvaluethecontributionoftheschooltogoodcrosscommunityrelationsinRostrevor.
‘TheProtestantchildrensinginthechoirintheCatholicChurchonthedayofFirstCommunion–thatmeansalot.’(Interview)
KilbroneyreferstoitstransformingstatusinitsREPolicy:
‘WeatKilbroneyIntegratedPrimarySchoolarecommittedtoprovidingappropriatereligiouseducationforallourpupils.ThecommonaimofthisteachingisthattheChristianethosunderpinsourwholeapproach.ThisisinlinewiththeNICIEStatementofPrinciples.
Asatransformingschoolweappreciatethatwemustendeavourtogivebothtraditionsequalweighting.Wealsorecognisethatthereisaplaceinourschoolforthosechildrenfromoutsidethemainreligioustraditions.Appropriateprovisionwillbemadeforchildrenfromreligiousminorities.Theneedsandwishesofparentswillbeaccommodatedwherepossible.
ReligiousEducationinourschoolfostersunderstandingthatdiversityexistsonaglobalaswellasalocalscale.Wewouldaimtoencouragechildrentoappreciatethemanydifferentbeliefsandhelpthemdevelopinganunderstanding.’(KilbroneyIntegratedPrimarySchool,2008)
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Theschool’sREcurriculumincludesastrandon“ReligiousEducationforMutualUnderstanding”.
‘AllprimaryschoolpupilsinNorthernIrelandfollowtheCoreSyllabusforREagreedbythefourmainstreamchurches.Asanintegratedschoolwehaveincludedastrand,ReligiousEducationforMutualUnderstanding,toencouragebetterunderstandingofourvariousdenominationsandtraditions.AtKeyStageTwothepupilsaremadeawareoftheexistenceofotherworldreligionsinadditiontoChristianity…
ReligiousEducationforMutualUnderstanding
KeyStage1
…Throughparticipationinschoolservicesatvariouschurches,visitsofclergytoschool,anddiscussionoftheseeventswithinclass,childrenwillbehelpedtoappreciatetherangeanddiversityofChristiantraditionsthatexist.
Theobjectivesare:
• ChildrenshouldknowthatthereareanumberofdifferentChristiandenominationsandchurches
• Childrenshouldhaveexperience,throughschoolservices,ofworshippinginchurchesofatleasttwodifferenttraditions/denominations
KeyStage2
Thiselementofthecurriculumwillbetimetabledseparately,inordertoprovideopportunitiesforjointdiscussionaboutreligiousmatterspecifictoeachtraditionandabouttheintegratednatureoftheschool.Theseobjectivesare:
• Thatthechildrenwillhaveanunderstandingandappreciationofeachother’sreligioustraditionsandculturaldifferences;
• Thattheywillhaveagreatertoleranceandrespectforeachother;• Thatthechildrenwillhaveanawarenessthatthereareotherfaiths
practicedaroundtheworld
Areascoveredinclude:
• PlacesofWorship;• MethodsofWorship;• Signsandsymbols;• Specialdays/festivals
CatholicInstructioninP4andP7includingPrayers,Sacraments,Confirmation,TheMass,TheCatholicChurch,DevotiontoMaryandtheSaints
(KilbroneyIntegratedPrimarySchool,2008)
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8 Conclusions
‘IthinktheChurcheshavebeenhardontheintegratedsector.Wehaven’tgiventhemsignificantrecognitionofalltheyhavedoneagainsttheoddsandwithouttheChurches.Theyhaveworkedthroughalotofissuesonhowtoshare.Theyhavealottoteachusandtheirexpertiseshouldbetapped.Becausewehavebeen
protectiveofourownsectorwehavenotbeenabletoofferasmuchsupportasweshould.’(Interview)
Themainconclusionsoftheresearchareasfollows:RelationshipBetweenIntegratedSchoolsandChurches8.1 Todate,noneofthechurcheshasplayedaformalroleinthedevelopment
ofintegratededucationinNorthernIreland.
8.2 Thechurcheshavetendedtoprioritisetheprotectionofexistingschools(maintainedandcontrolledschools)overwhichtheyhavegovernance,oversupportfororinvolvementinthedevelopmentofintegratededucationinNorthernIreland.
8.3 CatholicclergyhavediscouragedCatholicparentsfromsendingtheirchildrentointegratedschools.Howeverinrecentyears,thereisevidenceofa“softening”toamore“pragmatic”approachtowardsCatholicparentschoosingintegratedschools.ThereisnowarangeofapproachesamongdifferentCatholicDiocesesanddifferentCatholicclergy.
8.4 Protestantclergyhaveexpressedalevelofsupportthatisconditionalonintegratedschoolsnotimpactingnegativelyoncontrolledschoolsonwhichtheyaretransferors.TheChurchofIreland,PresbyterianandMethodistChurches,whilenotproactiveinthedevelopmentofintegratededucation,aresupportiveofintegratedschoolsaslongastheydonotimpactnegativelyoncontrolledschools.
8.5 Recently,thePresbyterianChurchhaspubliclyencourageditsministerstoplayafullpartwithinlocalintegratedschools.
8.6 ThetransformingofcontrolledschoolshasbecomeacontentiousissueforProtestantChurcheswhoaretransferors,asnoCatholicschoolhasevertransformedandBishopsdonottakeuptheinvitationtoappointCatholicgovernorstotheplacesallocatedtothemwithintheBoardofGovernorsoftransformedControlledIntegratedSchools.
8.7 ThevastmajorityofintegratedschoolsinNorthernIrelandregardlinkswithchurchesasimportantandactivelytrytodevelopsuchlinkswithlocalchurches.
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8.8 MostintegratedschoolshavearelationshipwiththeirlocalChurchofIreland(73%),RomanCatholic(68%)andPresbyterian(66%)Churches.
8.9 Themaintypesoflinkwithlocalchurchesarepupilvisitstochurches,conductofworshipinschoolandchurchservices,useofchurchpremisesforschooleventsandpreparationandreceptionforRomanCatholicsacraments.
8.10 Themajorityofintegratedschoolsarevisitedbyclergyatleastonceaterm.
8.11 Twofifthsofintegratedschoolshavetriedunsuccessfullytoestablisharelationshipwithalocalchurch.JustunderaquarterofintegratedschoolshavebeenunsuccessfulintryingtoestablisharelationshipwithalocalRomanCatholicChurch.
8.12 Morethanhalfofintegratedschoolshavereceivedpublicsupportfromlocalclergy.
8.13 Justoverathirdofintegratedschoolshaveexperiencedpublicoppositionbyclergy,mainlyCatholicclergymakingpublicstatementsdiscouragingCatholicparentsfromchoosinganintegratedschoolratherthanaCatholicschool.
8.14 JustoverhalfofintegratedschoolsdonothavearelationshipwithfaithcommunitiesotherthanChristian.Amongthejustunderhalfofschoolsthatdohavearelationshipwithdifferentfaithcommunities,thistendstobedevelopedthroughparentsratherthanthroughformallinkswithreligiousleaders.
8.15 Thevastmajorityofintegratedschoolshaveneverdeclinedanapproachtodeveloplinksfromachurchorotherfaithgroup.
ChristianEthosinIntegratedSchools
8.16 Thenatureoftherelationshipbetweenclergyandlocalintegratedschoolsisoftendependentonthepersonalviewsofbothprincipalsandlocalclergy.
8.17 ThemajorityofintegratedschoolsindicateintheirprospectusormissionstatementthattheyhaveaChristianethos.
8.18 Mostintegratedschoolsdescribetheirschool’sapproachtoreligionaseither“allfaithsandnone”orChristian.ThisreflectsanapproachthatisprimarilyChristian,butthatincludespeopleofdifferentfaithsaswellaspeopleofnoreligiousfaith.
8.19 TheapproachtoChristianethosofaparticularschoolisoftendependentonthepersonalviewsoftheprincipalandstaffoftheschool.
8.20 IntegratedschoolsarefacingthechallengeofhavingaChristianethoswithinanincreasinglydiversesocietyandinthecontextofanincreaseinsecularismandatheism.
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8.21 ThemainwaysinwhichintegratedschoolsreflecttheirChristianethosisthroughAssemblies,theRECurriculumandpromotingvaluessuchasrespect,toleranceandcaring.
8.22 Themajorityoftheschoolshaveweeklyassembliesandoverhalfoftheschoolsincludeareligiousdimensioninallassemblies.ThetwomainreligiousoccasionscelebratedinthemajorityofintegratedschoolsareCarol/NativityServicesandHarvestServices.
8.23 SomeintegratedschoolshaveputconsiderableenergyandattentionintohowtheyworkouttheirChristianethosinpracticeinawaythatisinclusiveofallthechildrenattheschool.
OtherIssues
8.24 Mostintegratedschoolshavenothadareligiouseventintheschoolthatprovedtobecontentious.Whereeventshaveprovedcontentiousthishasusuallyinvolvedcomplaintsbyasmallnumberofparents.
8.25 Mostintegratedschoolseitherhavenopolicyoranopenpolicyonthedisplayofreligioussymbols.
8.26 ThereisarangeofmodelsofgoodpracticearoundrelationshipswithchurchesandChristianethosinwithinintegratedschoolsthatotherschoolscanlearnfrom.
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9 RelevantIssuesforConsideration
Asaresultoftheissuesraisedinthisresearchthefollowingquestionsareofferedforfurtherconsideration:
9.1 IsitpossibleforthechurchesinNorthernIreland,alongsidetheirmainpriorityofprotectingtheirownschoolsectors,todevelopnewmodelsofsharedfaithschoolsasacontributiontowardspeaceandreconciliationinadividedsociety?Ifso,how?
9.2 WhatneedstohappentoencouragetheminorityofCatholicclergywhoarenotyetpreparedtoenteranintegratedschoolwithintheirparishtodevelopapositiverelationshipwiththeirlocalintegratedschool?
9.3 Howcanthefourmajorchurchesbesupportedtodevelopadialoguetodiscusscontentiousissuesregardingeducationsuchastransformation,theBainReport,integratingeducationandtheimpactoftheirapproachesoncommunityrelations?
9.4 Howcanintegratedschoolsdevelopmoreformallinkswiththelocalleadersofdifferentfaithcommunitiese.g.Muslim?
9.5 Whydomostintegratedschoolseitherhavenopolicyoranopenpolicyonthedisplayofreligioussymbols?
9.6 IsthereaneedformorethanoneintegratedschoolinNorthernIrelandtohaveafulltimechaplaincy?
9.7 HowcanintegratedschoolsbesupportedtodeveloptheirChristianand“allfaithsandnone”ethosinpractice?
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AppendixI:ResearchAdvisoryGroup
ResearchAdvisoryGroupMembers
1) BillBrown
2) MargaretKennedy
3) HelenKillick
4) TerryMcMackin
NICIE/ACTResearchAdvisoryGroup:
FocusGroupQuestions
16thOctober2007
1. Howdoyouseenatureoftherelationshipbetweenthefourmainchurchesandtheintegratedsector?
2. Whatdoyouthinkshouldtherelationshipbeideally?
3. Whatdoyouthinkneedstochange?
4. HowdoyouseecurrentpracticeinintegratedschoolsregardingChristianethos?
5. Whatdoyouthinkshouldbethepracticeideally?
6. Whatneedstochange?
7. Canyousuggestanyparticularmodelsofgoodpracticeinchurch/integratedschoolrelationships?
8. Haveyouanyothercomments?
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AppendixII:SchoolsSurvey
INTEGRATEDSCHOOLS
TELEPHONE/EMAILQUESTIONNAIRE
CONFIDENTIAL
ThisisaconfidentialsurveyofintegratedschoolsinNorthern
Ireland.Itisbeingcarriedoutaspartofaresearchstudyinto
ChurchesandChristianEthosinIntegratedSchoolsinNorthern
Ireland.TheresearchwasinitiatedbyACTandNICIEandisbeing
carriedoutbyindependentconsultantsMacaulayAssociates.
Ifreplyingbyemail,[email protected]
RELATIONSHIPWITHCHURCHES
1. Howimportantarelinkswithlocalchurchesforyourschool?
VERYIMPORTANTIMPORTANTUNIMPORTANT VERYUNIMPORTANT
2. Doesyourschoolactivelytrytodeveloplinkswithlocalchurches?
YES/NO
3. IfYES,howdoyoudothis?
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4. Withwhichchurchesdoesyourschoolhavearelationship?
5. Howoftendoclergyfromeachofthesechurchesvisityourschool?(pleasegivedetailsforeachclergy)
6. Whichoftheserolesdolocalchurchesplayinyourschool?Pleasetickwhereappropriateandgivedetailsforeachchurch.
• Conductof/participationinworshipinschoole.g.inassemblies• Conductof/participationinworshipinchurchservicese.g.first
communion,harvest.Ifticked,pleasespecifybothwhichchurch/churchesandtypeofservice?• Pastoralrole
• Formalchaplaincyrole
• Informalcontactwithstaff
• Preparationforsacraments
• Pupilvisitstochurches
• TeachingofRE/supportforREteachers
• Useofchurchpremisesforschoolevents
• Involvementofchurchstaffotherthanclergy(e.g.youthworkers)
• BoardofGovernors
• Other(pleasegivedetails)
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7. Arethereanylocalchurcheswithwhichyouhavetriedunsuccessfully
toestablisharelationship?
YES/NO
8. IfYES,whichchurch/churches?
9. Ifclergyhavedeclinedtobecomeinvolvedinyourschool,whatreasons,ifany,havetheygiven?
10. Haveyouexperiencedanyinstanceswherelinkswereestablished,thensevered,byclergy?YES/NO
11. IfYES,whyyouthinkthishappened?
12. Haveyoureceivedanypublicsupportforyourschoolfromlocalclergy?
YES/NO
13. IfYES,whatformdidthissupporttake?(E.g.spoken/writtenpublicsupportbyclergy;churchmembersencouragedtobecomeinvolvedintheschool,etc.)
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14. Haveyoubeenawareofanyovertoppositionbyclergytowardsyourschool?
YES/NO
15. IfYES,whatformdidsuchoppositiontake(e.g.spoken/writtenpublicoppositionbyclergy;churchmembersdiscouragedfromenrollingchildren,etc.)?
16. Doesyourschoolhavearelationshipwithotherfaithcommunities?(E.g.Muslim)
YES/NO
17. IfYES,howweretheselinksdeveloped?
18. Hasyourschooleverdeclinedanapproachfromachurchorotherfaithgrouptodeveloplinks?YES/NO
19. IfYES,canyouexplainyourreasons?
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SCHOOLETHOS
20. Doesyourschoolindicateinitsprospectus/missionstatementthatithasaChristianethos?YES/NO
21. Whatisthereasonforthis?
22. IfyourschoolisdescribedashavingaChristianethos,howisthisreflectedinpractice?
23. Whichoneofthesewordsbestdescribesyourschool’sapproachtoreligion:
ALLFAITHSANDNONECHRISTIANECUMENICALHUMANISTMULTIFAITHSECULAROTHER–pleasestate
24. Which,ifany,religiouseventshaveyouhadinyourschoolinthepast
yeare.g.harvest,Eastercelebrations,carolservices,mass,etc.?
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25. Whichofthefollowingtakeplaceinyourschool?Pleasetickandgivedetails.
a. dailyreligiousassemblies
b. dailyprayers
c. weeklyreligiousassemblies
d. faithbasedextracurricularclubs/activities(pleasegivedetails)
e. otherreligiousactivities(pleasegivedetails)
26. What percentage of your school assemblies include a religious dimension (e.g. prayer)
27. Have there been any religious events in your school which have proved contentious? YES/NO
28. If YES, please explain why
29. What is your school’s policy on the display of religious symbols?
30. Have you any other comments you would like to feed into this research?
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AppendixIII:Interviewees1. RevHaroldAgnew,OmaghMethodistChurch2. NigelArnold,Principal,GlengormleyIntegratedPrimarySchool3. JimClarke,DeputyChiefExecutive,CCMS4. StephenCreber,Principal,BrownlowIntegratedCollege5. JulieCooke,Student,DrumraghIntegratedCollege6. FrKevinDonaghy,PrincipalStPatrick’sGrammarSchool
Armagh,ArchdioceseofArmagh7. GraceDoone,Teacher,MillStrandintegratedPrimarySchool8. RevIanEllis,SecretarytotheBoardofEducation,Churchof
Ireland&TransferorRepresentativesCouncil9. GraceFraser,Researcher10. NigelFrith,Principal,DrumraghIntegratedCollege11. RoryGardner,Teacher,MillenniumIntegratedPrimarySchool12. PauletteGallagher,IntegrationCo‐ordinator,Drumragh
IntegratedCollege13. RevLeeGlenny,BoardofEducation,MethodistChurchin
Ireland&TransferorRepresentativesCouncil14. FrMichaelHackett,ParishPriest,Kilbroney15. RevSamJones,ChurchofIrelandRector,Rostrevor16. MargaretKennedy,ACT17. HelenKillick,Chaplain,LaganCollege18. SrAnneKilroy,Chaplain,LaganCollege19. CecilLinehan,ACT20. MariaLogue,Student,DrumraghIntegratedCollege21. JaniceMarshall.Principal,DrumlinsIntegratedPrimarySchool22. FrSeanMcCartney,ParishofDrumbo&Carryduff23. RevColinMcClure,ConveneroftheStateEducationCommittee,
PresbyterianChurchinIreland24. TracyMcConnell,Teacher,KilbroneyIntegratedPrimary
School25. BronaghMcElhone,ActingHeadofRE,DrumraghIntegrated
College26. TerryMcMackin,NICIE27. DeniseMoorehead,Principal,KilbroneyIntegratedPrimary
School28. AnneMurray,Principal,OakgroveIntegratedPrimarySchool29. PastorMarkPatterson,CarryduffBaptistChurch30. PeterRafferty,Governor,KilbroneyIntegratedPrimarySchool31. PhillipReid,Principal,MillStrandIntegratedPrimarySchool32. MaryRoulston,Principal,MillenniumIntegratedPrimary
School33. ZoeSeaton,ParentGovernor,MillStrandIntegratedPrimary
School34. ElaineSmyth,Teacher,KilbroneyIntegratedPrimarySchool35. LouiseWardHunter,DepartmentofEducation36. MichaelWardlow,ChiefExecutive,NICIE
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AppendixIV:TransformingSchoolsGovernance
Controlledintegratedschools
5.—(1)Thereshallbe14or21votingmembersappointedtotheBoardofGovernorsofacontrolledintegratedschool,otherthanacontrolledintegratedschooltowhichsub‐paragraph(3)applies,and,subjecttoparagraph6,ofthosemembers—
(a)two‐seventhsshallbeelectedbyparentsofpupilsattendingtheschoolfromamongsttheparentsofsuchpupils;
(b)two‐seventhsshallbechosenbytheboardresponsibleforthemanagementoftheschool;
(c)one‐seventhshallbenominatedbythetransferorsandsupersededmanagersofcontrolledschools(otherthancontrolledintegratedschools)intheareaoftheboardresponsibleforthemanagementoftheschool;
(d)one‐seventhshallbenominatedbythenominatingtrusteesofCatholicmaintainedschoolsintheareaoftheboardresponsibleforthemanagementoftheschool;
(e)one‐seventhshallbeelectedbyassistantteachersattheschoolfromamongstsuchassistantteachers.
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