Education and religion

Friendly Observer

By Arthur Keefe

                Last year, towards the end of the school year, I wrote an open letter in the NewsRecord, to the Superintendent of schools in the city. I made a number of suggestions, most of which were in line with common practice elsewhere and most of which have been ignored!

                One or two, such as the banning of motorcycles in the school gates at Ramon Magsaysay Elementary School have been adopted. Although whether as a result of my suggestions or just common sense, I don't know.

                Many of my comments related to the need to improve communication with parents and to plan ahead for school closures. I have seen little or no improvement in this and was, therefore, pleasantly surprised to receive a written note advising me that my daughter could attend school on Saturdays for three weeks to make up for lost days.

                However, all was not as it seemed! Firstly, the first of the three Saturdays listed had already passed and we knew nothing about this. The second was cancelled, together with the school closing on the Friday (for reasons I remain ignorant about).

                A written note with advance warning was welcome but what is the point if it is late, inaccurate and incomplete. Perhaps the principal can explain to parents why the note was such a mess. Better still, try again, with reliable information next time.

                 I should add, that I find the teachers flexible, efficient and friendly. The problem is not one of indifference, but one of leadership and management.

                I would like to think it is not so, but it feels, as a parent, as if the school organization is for the benefit and convenience of the staff not for the children and their parents.

                Parents need to plan ahead. They can avoid taking children out of school if they know of free days well in advance.

                A school calendar showing all closure days (whether for seminars, other duties, ad hoc holidays, scout meetings, area meet, etc) at the start of each semester is what is needed. All it requires is better management by the senior staff and others (Department of Education?) and a written communication once a semester to parents. It happens elsewhere, why not here?

                Whilst on matters educational, let me refer to the issue of religion.

                I was surprised when my daughter, age 9, told me the school was taking her to Catholic communion. Surprised because nobody had sought my permission, surprised because she has been given no religious preparation, and surprised because at the age of 9, she does not understand what this means, and in no way can she give informed consent.

                Perhaps, I was surprised most of all, that the school, in a multi-cultural society, should take it upon itself to decide such matters.

                When I spoke to the teacher, she accepted my decision that this was a matter for my daughter when she was old enough to understand and she told me it only applied to Catholics anyway.

                Is this an example of religious brainwashing? What role does the State play in this? Who makes these kinds of decisions on behalf of parents without consulting them? These are serious questions which those responsible for education in our city need to answer.

                They are invited to make a response through the column of this newspaper and indeed comments from other will be equally welcome.