Uncategorized Archives | Teach Dont Preach

February 4, 2020 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Why we need stronger Data Protection in schools regarding religion

One of the questions that Atheist Ireland is asking the political parties during this election is: "Will you support the right of parents and students, under the data protection law, to not have to reveal their religious or philosophical convictions, directly or indirectly, when exercising their right to not attend ...

January 30, 2020 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Schools admission policies must respect the right to opt out of religion classes

Atheist Ireland has sent the letter below to the Department of Education. It is about how recently revised Guidelines, issued by the Catholic Church, are undermining the right to not attend religious teaching in Irish schools. Please read the letter below, then ask your General Election candidates the following question, ...

January 24, 2020 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

New Catholic Guidelines yet again undermine the right to opt out of religion classes

In its recently updated Guidelines on the inclusion of other beliefs in Catholic second-level schools, the Catholic Church claims that Catholic schools do not teach religious instruction anymore. The reason that the Church is claiming that Catholic schools don’t do religious instruction anymore is because of the recently commenced Section ...

December 15, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

ETB schools pay €9.8 million to chaplains, but deny doing religious instruction

The Department of Education spends €9.8 million per year on 156 Chaplains in ETB schools, which are supposed to be the State-run alternative to denominational schools, even though the ETBs claim that there is no religious instruction in the schools. The €9.8 million is paid to help Catholic and Church of ...

December 11, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

NCCA report avoids the question of how to deliver objective sex education

The NCCA has failed to recommend that the Education Act be amended to ensure that students get objective sex education that is not influenced by a religious school ethos. Its new report has simply described the problem of ethos, instead of addressing how to resolve it. And the Minister for ...

December 11, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Catholic school guidelines on inclusion deny the rights of secularists

The Joint Managerial Body (JMB) for second level Religious schools has issued revised Guidelines for the ‘Inclusion of Other Beliefs in Catholic Secondary Schools’. These revised Guidelines undermine the rights of minorities. They are based on fear and control dressed up in the language of inclusion. The Catholic Church is ...

December 2, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Time to rebalance Constitutional rights to protect religious minorities in Irish schools

In Ireland children have a Constitutional Right to not attend any religious teaching or activities. The Constitution obliges the State to respect the inalienable right of parents to ensure that the teaching of their children is in conformity with their convictions. The Constitution also guarantees that all citizens are equal ...

November 14, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

Atheist Ireland tells NCCA that Education Act must be amended for objective sex education

The NCCA is reviewing the state courses on relationship and sex education in schools. It has already issued a Draft Report. Unfortunately, this Draft Report does not follow through on its commitment to human rights standards in the delivery of RSE in Irish schools, and it does not recommend amending ...

November 7, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

The right of the child to freedom of conscience, religion and belief

In a speech called “The future of Ireland Human rights and children’s rights”, the former President Mary McAleese said that she wanted to come to the debate over education in a different way from the usual arguments about integrated education, reduction of Catholic school patronage, or how to provide opt-outs ...

November 5, 2019 No Comments Teach Dont Preach

European Court says opting out of religion class must not place an undue burden on parents

Last week the European Court found that the exemption procedure from a Religion class in Greek schools placed an undue burden on parents with a risk of exposure of sensitive aspects of their private life. The Court went on to say that the potential for conflict was likely to deter ...