Student belatedly allowed opt out of Religion Class
 

See this is what I'm talking about Kaz and why I have such an issue with prayers and **** being forced upon us. My own daughter only this morning asked me what to do about Religion class. She's doing her Junior Cert this year which is similar to the GCSEs and religion is an exam subject and there's alot of information to learn for it. She's a really good student and hates to not do well but studying for religion is going to take valuable time away from her actual important subjects. I could go to the school and say I don't want her doing it but there probably would be a big issue with it and I don't think she wants to be in the spotlight or embarrassed like that (which is disgraceful in this day and age anyway) so i just told her not to waste a second on it and sit the lower level exam. I do feel like a bit of a hypocrite to not stand my ground and make sure she's not even doing the subject but ultimately my child has to come first and would die of embarrassment if I made a big deal of it, anyway......

Limerick school belatedly accepts father’s request for daughter to opt out of religion class

A father has "welcomed" a decision by his daughter's secondary school to allow her to opt out of religion class, but she must remain in the class under supervision while the subject is taught.

Paul Drury, originally from England but living in Limerick, told RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Monday morning, how Castletroy College had rejected his request last week, to allow his daughter, a first year student at the school, opt out of religious studies, despite her and her father being non-religious.

After the Minister for Education, Jan O'Sullivan, spoke to school's co-patrons, the Education and Training Board (ETB) about the matter, and after telling reporters that parents had a legal right to allow their child not study religion in school, Castletroy College board of management called a meeting to discuss the matter further.

Shortly after 8pm, the board of management - which is run by the ETB in joint patronage with the Bishop of Limerick, Dr Brendan Leahy - decided Mr Drury's daughter could opt out of religion class "with immediate effect".

However, the school board's decision comes with a caveat - the girl must remain in the religion class under supervision while the religion class is being taught to her fellow students.

Prior to the board's decision, a spokesperson for Dr Leahy, who is currently abroad, said: "The matter is to be decided collectively by the board of management."

According to sources, Mr Drury "welcomed" the board's decision.

Earlier in the day, local Anti Austerity Alliance Councillor Cian Prendiville, called on the school in question to "allow pupils full freedom of religion" by not requiring their pupils to study religion against their family's wishes.

"Schools should respect people of all religious beliefs, this includes respecting those of no religious beliefs and atheists," Cllr Prendiville added.

Moving to clarify the rights of parents earlier in the day, Minister O'Sullivan described parents as "primary educators" of their children, adding, "so it is their right to decide whether or not the child attends religious education".

"I hope parents do know their rights, and they should approach (a school) if they wish to have their child exempt from religion," the minister said.

"Normally that is done first through the principal, and if necessary through the board of management," minister O'Sullivan said.

Statement below by Casteltroy College regarding student allowed opt out of religion class at request of her father....

“Mr Drury requested that his daughter be allowed to opt out of the Religious Education course. Following discussion at a regular Board of Management meeting this evening, this request was agreed with immediate effect."

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakin...ss-707072.html

Was there no alternative school to send your daughter to Niamh?

It's so wrong for anything to be forced like that Niamh, if she doesn't want to do it ,she shouldn't have to, I haven't come across that , but my daughter hasn't reached that stage yet,thing is,I don't blame religion for that,I blame silly rules by silly people,we should all be able to believe what we want ,as I do,but I would never force anyone to follow those beliefs even my children,I understand why you didn't stand your ground,I am sure my daughter would have been the same, it's a shame , and it should not stand in the way of childrens education.

Certainly not anywhere near me, tbh I don't even think there are any non denominational secondary schools in Cork, there's 5 Educate together primary schools in the whole of Cork and they're trying to get a secondary school open. There's only one secondary school in my village and obviously she wants to be there anyway near all her friends

it's insane to make kids study religion.

kid's study Aesop's Fables in 2nd grade, and frankly those fables have more to offer spiritually than any of the major religions.

They might as well force people to study Disney movies.

Yeah, If they want to keep it in the schools that badly fine but atleast make it an optional subject like Home Ec and Art etc don't force it on people

And to add to that I shouldn't have to find an alternative to school to the one in my own area, it isn't a private school, it's a state school that I pay for along with all the other Tax payers

Yeah it's a tough one, but it can't have come as a shock that she would have to study it, you have to go with what she wants at the end of the day. Alot of kids don't want to study Irish either, or Maths or Shakespeare, that's school life, my kids went to non denominational secondary schools but they still studied religion to a degree up until GCSE when they could opt out maybe that is the way forward in Ireland

Yes but if you have strong beliefs shouldn't you do everything in your power to change the system rather than just going along with it?

Not if it makes my childs life awkward no

No it didn't come as a shock that she would have to do religion but what did come as a shock was that religion is now an exam subject, that wasn't the case when I was in school

Right but why not lobby your TD for change for your grand kids?

Yes I might do actually

Seriously if people continue to go along with the system it will never change, even an online petition would help open the debate

Religious class is supposes to be about teaching kids to understand religions isn't it, not about teaching them to follow any particular one? I've always been non-religious but I enjoyed RE and thought it was useful because it does teach you about the real world and the society around you

Both my kids enjoyed RE though neither took it as an option at GCSE, that said a lot of kids do, not sure if they still focus on Catholicism solely in Ireland :think:

The school my kids went to had RE as one of the GCSE subjects but thankfully it wasn't about what is in the bible.
They learned about the different religions of the world, people and their belief systems.
The only subject our son failed in..he walked out of the exam as he was that bored.:shrug:

Well, in the vast majority of primary schools here it's only Catholicism "taught" as fact, in secondary schools it's an exam subject with the strongest push on Catholicism. If it were a proper unbiased subject it would be fine again as long as it's an option subject

Religions can be covered in history i a few lessons and should form no other part of a school education.

"Schools should respect people of all religious beliefs, this includes respecting those of no religious beliefs and atheists,"

This is true, had there been a non religious school in the area I'm sure she would've gone there.

You Are Most Wise

Yeah RE for us covered a few religions.

RE at my school was a chance to muck about and have a laugh

How can you decide you don't believe in something if you don't know anything about it?

Look it up in your own time if you're curious is my opinion