The Archbishop, Most Rev Dr Michael Jackson highlighted the nature and ethos of openness in the Church of Ireland’s approach to education in the Republic of Ireland, quoting Professor Moody of Hogwarts!
The Archbishop commented:-
There are two particular areas of life where the expression of this ethos of openness is at its most urgent and in many ways at its most undervalued and misunderstood. It will be no surprize to any of you that I refer to education and healthcare. Our eyes are open to the realities of recession, our ears are constantly bombarded by the rhetoric of recovery; we fully accept the need for relevance in education – yet many of us bemoan the turning of the educational experience of young people into a commodity, the definition of the worth of which is its capacity to deliver for the professional labour market. This is all the more ironical when we have fully embraced the essential nature of lifelong learning in the philosophy of education. The contribution made by teachers and by parents and by members of Boards of Management through National Schools and Secondary Schools is impossible to quantify and is selflessly given. I am sure that I speak for all Members of this Synod when I express deep gratitude to all those who commit themselves to the work of education and who wish the warm air of freedom and tolerance to breathe through the educational experience of all pupils. A recent Survey in June of this year should give us and others heart. There is overwhelming support for Church of Ireland National Schools. Among the features which are most appreciated are: the educational provision, the care for children, the welcoming of parents, the inclusion of all and the opportunities provided for children to learn about Christianity. We are also fortunate in having the Church of Ireland College of Education situated within our dioceses and also the Church of Ireland Theological Institute.
But, as Professor Moody of Hogwarts is wont to say: Constant vigilance! There is deep concern in parts of the country about long-term commitment on the part of the Department of Education and Skills to sustained provision of school transport in rural areas. Were this to be withdrawn, a very real possibility would be school closures by parental decision to have their children educated at schools geographically closer to home beyond and without our particular system. Throughout the summer period, there was considerable chaos caused in relation to teacher redeployment with a further follow-through of anxiety to students emerging from CICE at that time seeking to secure jobs. The reasons for both anxiety and vigilance are clear. The Department’s stated objective is one of finding significant further savings, in the region of 1 billion euro over the next four years. The Department’s proposals to raise again the pupil/teacher ratio at primary and secondary level accelerate the risk of the reduction of pupils’ educational experience. Into this equation we need to throw the Department’s own projection that primary school numbers are due to rise by 6% over the above four year period. The implications of these considerations, to name but a few, are significant. We are regularly in contact with the Department and appreciate deeply the level of communication afforded us. Yet, in the words of Professor Moody what is needed is: Constant vigilance!