Educate together

Greystoner

Has anyone out there got a child in an Educate together school. My child is on the waiting list, but it is not our first choice. This is mainly down to the fact that I don't know anyone in one to give me any pointers!
If anyone could give me info, good or bad, that would be great.
Thanks!

January

Better suited here OP

byhookorbycrook

Every school is different, so you can't say all Educate Together/Gaelscoileanna/Church of Ireland Schools are like this or that.Maybe if you can be more specific as to what area you are in, you could get better feedback?

Greystoner

I am in Greystones area, county Wicklow.

Greystoner

Greystoner wrote: »

Has anyone out there got a child in an Educate together school. My child is on the waiting list, but it is not our first choice. This is mainly down to the fact that I don't know anyone in one to give me any pointers!
If anyone could give me info, good or bad, that would be great.
Thanks!

My son went to an ET school, but that wasn't in Greystones.

Can I ask why you would consider an ET school as opposed to any other school in your local area?

Have you checked out the Greystones ETNS website?

Greystoner

Our first choice is at another local Catholic school, but we are quite far down on the waiting list. I like this one because it is well established, we know children there (who are very happy) and I just get a good vibe off the place tbh.

The ET school; I like the idea of the non-religious aspect and the learning about other cultures/celebrating them etc, but as the Greystones school is very new and we don't know anyone there, I am still unsure.

We will have to accept whichever school comes up. I would just like to be more informed about what is so 'different' about it. I am open-minded, but at the end of the day, I want what is best for my children.

So any reports/tips would be great.

thanks!

Orion

From a curriculum point of view the only difference between ET and other schools is the religious education. Faith based schools practise religious instruction classes where ET do religious, moral and ethical education - Learn Together Curriculum

ET schools attempt to engage the parents more and have this as part of their core values. However faith based schools can also do this and it really depends on your local schools how involved parents can be in the school.

Best thing is to ask some parents in the area. Most schools have open days which would be an ideal opportunity to talk to parents and teachers in the school about their experiences.

byhookorbycrook

ET schools don't generally have a uniform and call teachers by their first names. I agree that you should go to the school,ask to chat with the principal and you'll get a good idea of the place.

Dublin_Mom

I had my children in an ET school, in another part of South Dublin.
I loved the school, very friendly and inclusive, but I pulled them out when I realised that both my kids were very bright and the school did not really put much emphasis on academics. To put it mildly my kids were not challenged. Other people had the same issue and some left the school, others stuck it out.

This was my limited experience with one ET school. Not sure if they are all the same, but I have a 'feeling' they might be because of their all inclusive ethos. The school my sons were at didn't really encourage winners or losers, but at sports day everyone got a cert to say 'X had played an active part in the sports day' Now thats fine.....to a point. And lovely for the younger classes. But as we all know life is not like that and they have to hit the real world sometime.

But I would certainly go and visit and ask some relevant questions. Good Luck!

Greystoner

Greystoner wrote: »

The ET school; I like the idea of the non-religious aspect and the learning about other cultures/celebrating them etc, but as the Greystones school is very new and we don't know anyone there, I am still unsure.

The unique selling point of ET schools is that they have a specific angle on religion. Inclusiveness and democracy are certainly elements, as is the notion of a multi-denominational approach to religious education - but the original and core purpose of ET schools was to provide schooling for the kids of non-believers.

(Looking from the outside, it seems to me that ET has been suffering from a bit of "mission creep" in recent years, but that's a whole other debate).

If the particular religious angle of a school isn't important to you, then really it is all about picking the school you think will work out best for you and your child.

It's well worth taking the advice of Macros42 and byhookorbycrook. School principals are very important in determining the quality of schools, and you really should try to talk to the principal(s) before making a final decision.

Orion

Deleted User wrote: »

The unique selling point of ET schools is that they have a specific angle on religion. Inclusiveness and democracy are certainly elements, as is the notion of a multi-denominational approach to religious education - but the original and core purpose of ET schools was to provide schooling for the kids of non-believers.

That is complete and utter rubbish. Even the term "non-believers" is rubbish in this context. You should read up on the core values of ET because you obviously have no clue what ET is about.

Macros42

Macros42 wrote: »

That is complete and utter rubbish. Even the term "non-believers" is rubbish in this context. You should read up on the core values of ET because you obviously have no clue what ET is about.

If you say so.

My son attended an ET school. The reason he attended is because we are atheists.

ET grew out of the multi-denominational school movement of the 1980s, whose objective was to provide an alternative to schools with a religious ethos.

While respect for all religious backgrounds - including humanism, atheism and agnosticism - has been a stated principle of ET for as long as I can remember, the fact is that the organisation and the movement out of which it grew was in the main built by and for humanists.

Since those days, ET has undergone considerable "mission creep" in my view, but the same can be said of the religious patrons in the education system, and ET can hardly be expected to stand still as times change.


And finally, should you choose to address the above, try to do so in a more self-aware manner than your previous post. I understand that the bold print means that you're a moderator. I suggest you try to behave like one.

D4RK ONION

Deleted User wrote: »

And finally, should you choose to address the above, try to do so in a more self-aware manner than your previous post. I understand that the bold print means that you're a moderator. I suggest you try to behave like one.

Moderators outside their modded forums are just regular users. However, back seat modding is not allowed. Please re-read the charter and consider this your on thread warning.

Problems With Posts/Posters

If you have a problem with a post or a poster, use the Report Post button and let the moderators deal with it. Back seat moderating is not permitted.

D4RK ONION

D4RK ONION wrote: »

Moderators outside their modded forums are just regular users. However, back seat modding is not allowed. Please re-read the charter and consider this your on thread warning.

Fair comment. Sorry about that.

Orion

Deleted User wrote: »

If you say so.

My son attended an ET school. The reason he attended is because we are atheists.

ET grew out of the multi-denominational school movement of the 1980s, whose objective was to provide an alternative to schools with a religious ethos.

While respect for all religious backgrounds - including humanism, atheism and agnosticism - has been a stated principle of ET for as long as I can remember, the fact is that the organisation and the movement out of which it grew was in the main built by and for humanists.

Since those days, ET has undergone considerable "mission creep" in my view, but the same can be said of the religious patrons in the education system, and ET can hardly be expected to stand still as times change.

Respect for all religious backgrounds has been a central tenet of ET since before it was ET - since it was the Project. But it was not designed just to cater for atheists as you said in your first post but to cater for anyone who wanted a more inclusive education for their children. This includes Christians, Muslims, Jews - anyone. Built by humanists - yes. Built solely for humanists - no.

I don't agree that it has suffered mission creep as you say. I think it's core beliefs have not changed. People of all faith and none subscribe to ET and have done since it's founding and hopefully will continue to - you cannot exclude religious families and call yourself inclusive.

Just as an FYI - I'm an atheist as well and my children have no religion and attend an ET school as we do not subscribe to the Catholic education system either.

[edit]D4rk Onion: I was typing this as you and Ulysses replied - feel free to delete/edit as appropriate.
[edit2]Removed it myself

Macros42

Macros42 wrote: »

to cater for anyone who wanted a more inclusive education for their children.

Yep. And in a system in which every primary school in the country devoted time to instruction in its specific religion, the group of people most likely to benefit from schools that did not devote time to religious instruction were those who did not have a specific religious faith.

Macros42 wrote: »

Built by humanists - yes. Built solely for humanists - no.

I think "primarily" would be a better word than "solely".

Macros42 wrote: »

I don't agree that it has suffered mission creep as you say.

I think it has. It certainly has a different image among the general public now than it did back in the 1990s. Quite a few times in recent years I've heard people express variations of the view that ET is the government body that builds schools for foreigners. The people in question would not be uneducated, either, even if the viewpoint is a bit *ahem* dubious.

Macros42 wrote: »

we do not subscribe to the Catholic education system either.

As it happens I do subscribe to the Catholic education system, just not for me and mine.

Mind you, I do recall telling a colleague at work about a mate of mine whose kids weren't baptised, and being asked how could I be a friend of a child abuser. :eek:

That was in 1991. How times change, eh?

Orion

I think we'll have to agree to disagree on certain aspects.

I do withdraw my remark about you not having a clue what ET is about - that is obviously wrong. We do appear to have different understandings of it. I stand by my response to the term "non-believers" though.

It certainly has a different image - I 100% agree. I have had family members use certain expressions regarding ET schools myself. However public perception is not necessarily the reality as we well know.

being asked how could I be a friend of a child abuser

Sure aren't all us atheists child abusers. And devil worshipers. And wife-swapping sodomites

Macros42

Macros42 wrote: »

I do withdraw my remark...

Likewise. Thanks and apologies.

Macros42 wrote: »

Sure aren't all us atheists child abusers. And devil worshipers. And wife-swapping sodomites

Ah, the good old days before I got middle-aged. :eek: