Sir, - I refer to your editorial of March 1st about the Education Bill, in which you say that the "Churches have fiercely defended their control of education for more than 150 years." I would like to point out that the Protestant secondary schools are not, controlled by the Churches. They are denominational schools controlled by boards, which are trustees of private property and are committed to protecting their own denominational ethos. It is control of these two issues that the, governors in the Protestant sector have been seeking since the discussions began, before the publication of the Green Paper on Education.
The Secondary School Council of Governors recognises and accepts what you identify as the three issues which the Bill faces the rapidly changing nature of our society; statutory recognition that the Government who pays the piper has the right to call the tune (though surely only over that part which is provided by the State); and that there is a need to democratise the education system.
The Protestant secondary schools exist to enable parents to send their children to a school of their own denomination. All are fee paying, and almost all have boarding facilities. The governors, frequently including parents, have a responsibility for seeing that the schools are run so that parents will continue to wish to educate their children in them. In order to ensure the protection of that ethos, it is essential that the governors have some control over the boards of management being introduced on a statutory basis by the Minister.
The White Paper recognises (page 146) "the responsibility of the patrons / trustees / owners / governors to maintain and promote a distinctive ethos in their schools and to ensure the practical means to discharge this responsibility." The Bill omits the "practical means to discharge". And this, is of major concern to us.
We are also concerned about clarity relating to control of admissions and the implied responsibility of the boards of management to be accountable for funds other than those provided by the Government. Our schools are largely funded by fees paid by parents.
You say correctly, at the end of your leader, that the Bill is "vague about the role of school owners and patrons, whether religious or otherwise, and is particularly confusing when talking about the respective roles of patrons and, boards of management." It is precisely these issues over which we are most concerned, especially where the Bill is at variance with statements in the White Paper and assurances given during discussions between the department and ourselves.
We have no argument with the burden and purpose of the Bill as a whole. But satisfactory clarification of the vagueness you identified is fundamental. Yours, etc.,
Chairman,
Protestant Secondary
School Council of
Governors,
Gorey,
Co Wexford.