Support for Educate Together

We had a huge response to our call for emails and letters of support. Below are excerpts from just some of the emails and letters which have been sent to the Minister for Education and Science mary.hanafin@education.gov.ie, An Taoiseach taoiseach@taoiseach.gov.ie, and the Minister for Finance minister@finance.gov.ie

Please keep sending them! Encourage your friends and family to do likewise. Be assured each email or letter makes a definite impact behind the scenes although you may just receive a standard reply. Thank you very much.

“I am delighted to support the Educate Together organisation in any way I can…Both my children were born outside Ireland, and I am just very happy that the culture and ethos of other countries, including where they were born, is promoted so positively. I would urge you to please increase the permanent funding to the Educate Together organisation so that they can continue to support existing, and new schools which are being established.” ~ Mother

“Our school would never have been set up without Educate Together and many parents in our area would be left feeling disenfranchised by the state education system.  
It is vital that this work continues in a country that is growing in its multiculturalism, children will derive the most benefit from embracing and understanding cultural differences.” ~ Mother, new Educate Together School, Leinster

“As with the integrated education movement in Northern Ireland, the IEF believe the work of Educate Together schools in the Republic is crucial to building an island society based on respect and appreciation…it is our sincere hope that additional funding can be found to resource the excellent work of Educate Together” ~ Integrated Education Fund

“Without the proactive support of Educate Together, our task in finding a caring, loving and progressive school placement for him would, in our view, have been doubtful.  He and his sister are thriving in the care of all the teachers of … Educate Together who demonstrably practice what they preach. Long may they be there for parents such as us." ~ Parents, Established Educate Together School, Dublin

”The National Schools which they run are a vital part of Irish Society and I believe the tax-payer would be getting very good value for their money. I feel quite strongly that providing Multi-denominational National School education is essential in our country today, particularly where racism is a growing canker in almost every society.” ~ Local Councillor, Dublin

“Coming back to Ireland, having spent many years in the UK, I was dreading sending him to an Irish national school. Not because they are not excellent schools, which they are, but because we are not religious and wanted him to avail of the kind of secular education we have experienced abroad. I was thrilled to learn that I had an alternative. Please support this unique organisation.”
~ Mother, Start Up Educate Together Group, North West

“It is imperative that you support this organisation's request for more funding.  Communities need these schools, communities need choice and it's a disgrace that in this country everything needs to be fought for.  I do hope you have the foresight to recognise a good thing when you see it.” ~ Mother, New Educate Together School, Leinster

“We believe that the model of education provided by Educate Together is vital to Irish society and understand that it needs to be properly resourced in order to continue and develop” ~ Immigrant Council of Ireland

“Throughout the past 4 years, I have been seeking alternative educational environments which would be closely aligned with my own convictions.  I found Educate Together, only to discover that they did not have sufficient resources to sustain, let alone expand, their services to people like me all over Ireland. I urge you and your staff to provide in Ireland what is already provided in so many other countries:  the right to genuine educational choice.” ~ Teacher, Munster

“If Educate Together is to continue operating, it is vital that you as Minister of Education allocate core funding of 500k per annum to them. I would really appreciate if you would review this situation at your earliest convenience and demonstrate your support for the development of an education system that will be the foundation for an inclusive and tolerant society in Ireland.” ~ Mother, Start Up Educate Together Group, Munster

“I’m a catholic who grew up in Ireland, and went to all 3 levels of school there. I now live in America where I interact with people of all religious faith daily, and its made me realise I know nothing about other religions, even the big ones like Judaism and Islam. Now more than ever with the growing multi-culturalism in Ireland its important that we Irish learn about other religions and that people of other religions learn about us… Educate Together promotes a more well rounded and tolerant society.  Please increase funding for them.” ~ Graduate Student, USA

“The money you provide for ET Nationally is abysmal. Please provide more support to Educate Together immediately” ~ Mother, Developing Educate Together School, Leinster

“Frankly I find it quite bewildering that I should need to write this letter in any member state of the European Union, or in any modern 21st century country…As a responsible parent I see it as my duty to provide them (my children) with the most appropriate grounding in life that I can. I would argue that in a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and diverse population such as we have in Ireland, my childrens' exposure to ALL religious and cultural differences is essential. I am appalled at the refusal of the government to grant a realistic sum to the Educate Together organization, a sum which would enable them to continue their role as the foremost providers of multi-denominational education in the country. Surely, as the fastest growing sector in education in Ireland today it is patently obvious that this funding is needed.” ~ Father, Start Up Group

“It is about time that the government realizes that alternatives to the Church-run schools are needed. Educate Together are doing and have been doing tremendous work educating our children to the highest standard on so many levels. Their multi-denominational schools are the only way forward. Please do not be responsible for the demise of this hard-working organisation.” ~ Third-level Student, Munster

“I request that you increase the Core State Funding to Educate Together in this years Budget. There is a great demand for this multi denominational or non denominational schooling and I believe it is shameful the lack of support it gets from the state. Surely in this day and age parents have the right to have their children educated to understand all religions and not be forced to send them to a one denominational school.” ~ Father, Dublin

“I believe that their contribution to education has made a huge impact. Furthermore, the ‘Educate Together’ model offers children, parents and all concerned with the provision of education a modern, 21st century structure that our school system is crying out for.” ~ Local Councillor, Connaught

“I would like to ask you to show understanding for needs of Educate Together schools and provide them with enough funding. This would give all children an opportunity of fair and equal start in life.” ~ Father, South Dublin

“…we need to build a culture of mutual acceptance and respect so that people from all walks of life can live side by side without fear or prejudice  of their neighbour.  Surely this starts with our children?  If they are educated together, then they will learn to live together.” ~ Graduate Student, United Kingdom

“May I take this opportunity to which you well in seeking the necessary funding to promote a valuable option of a multi-denominational education for significant number of parents…there is an overwhelming social argument that future generations should be educated in an atmosphere of equality and respect” ~ President, Irish Nurses Organisation

“Educate Together stepped up and into the breach 25 years ago, providing a model of multi-denominational education because the state had never seen fit to do so. It is time for the state to provide for Educate Together.  It provides a real and meaningful educational, moral and spiritual compass for our children's multicultural future.” ~ Mother, Developing Educate Together School, North Dublin   

“As an Australian national who has grown up in such an environment it amazes me that the Irish Government still abides by a form of overt discrimination in an age where it proports to support equality. The children of any society are its future, please ensure that all children, irrespective of race , background or belief are given the same opportunity to succeed. A significant means of doing this is ensuring that all are afforded the same educational opportunities and that the institutions that exist to provide are fairly and equitably funded.” ~ Father, Developing Educate Together School, North Dublin

“I wish you could see what they do for our children.  We need your support.  This school is affording my child with the very best education in an affirming way.  Teaching our children to be the best they can, without pressurising them.  We need more schools like this, this is where we as a people can make a difference, when we start with our very youngest.” ~ Mother, Developing Educate Together School, North Dublin

“Educate Together has contributed richly over many years towards meeting demands for diversity in education from a growing multicultural society.  I am appealing for increased and wholehearted state support and funding to be made to Educate Together to enable and encourage growth in their enormously positive and popular work.” ~ Mother, Established Educate Together School, West of Ireland

“… all commentators recognise the fact that Educate Together schools provide choice to parents who do not wish to send their children to denominationally managed schools. Although the Taoiseach recognises this fact, it is a shame that he is prepared to let the National Body starve of cash, rather than fund it to enable it to continue its support of parents who opt for multi-denominational education.” ~ Teacher, Established Educate Together School, Dublin

“Has the situation in the North taught us nothing? Surely, it cannot be in the interests of any of our children to divide them in their day-to-day school lives on the basis of a tag of religion which they have inherited from previous generations, and which, often, does not actually affect them in their home lives at all?” ~ Mother, Established Educate Together School, Munster

“While I do believe that Christianity has a significant role to play in Irish society, the lack of choice for students…is quite plainly unfair. Considering the deep rooted social divisions created by having a strong native-culture dominance in government institutions in countries like France, I believe that we have an opportunity to progressively tackle future social problems before they become just that.” ~ Graduate Student, Netherlands

“I heard an Taoiseach on the radio last week stating that the existence of Educate Together demonstrated how responsive the State was to the demands of a changing Ireland. If this is so, then it is self evident that with the acceleration of change in our country, Educate Together can only have a rapidly increasing role to play in providing the type of educational choice which is being demanded by more and more parents.” ~ Mother, Established Educate Together School, Dublin

“For us as a family we cannot envisage our children being educated in any other way. We believe that all parents in Ireland have the right to choose an Educate Together school if this is what they want for their children.” ~ Parents, Developing Educate Together School, Dublin

“My children are catholic and are/will study for their first holy communion as extra curricular activities after school. I am delighted that they are covering the learn together curriculum in school hours and will learn to respect and understand other religions as well as covering inclusion, equality & justice, democracy and environmental responsibilities.” ~ Father, Established Educate Together School, Dublin

“I was lucky, I had a choice in the selection of an Educate Together school for my daughter.  I owe it to those parents, who aren’t that lucky and who don’t have an Educate Together school in their area, to help secure the future of the sector.” ~ Mother, Established School, North Dublin