Educate Together launches Ireland’s first multi-denominational, ethical core curriculum

On Wednesday the 6th October Kathleen Lynch, Chair of Equality Studies, University College Dublin will officially launch Ireland’s first multi-denominational Ethical Education Curriculum for primary education in the Ark Children’s Cultural Centre, Temple Bar. This type of curriculum has been called for by parents and teachers for many years. The curriculum is built on the concepts of human rights and responsibilities and the appreciation of the wealth of human diversity, rather than defined by the needs of one specific religious faith. The essential aim of this programme is to give children a basic sense of social, ethical and moral standards in the areas of respect, justice, integrity, truthfulness, trust and responsibility.

Since 2001, Educate Together has been working to bring together and summarise its 27 year experience in the practical delivery of an multi-denominational Programme for Irish primary schools. This has involved the participation of all Educate Together schools and external academic input.

This pack and booklet will be used to assist schools and help parents and teachers new to the sector understand the key values involved in this form of education. It will underpin the quality of values delivery in the Educate Together schools. It will also project the achievements of the sector onto a wider educational stage and validate the efforts of teachers in the sector over many years. Research indicates that this will be of general interest through out the education system, especially for those educators who are grappling with the needs of a rapidly diversifying student population.

The writing team currently involved in this work encompasses some of the most influential voices within Educate Together. It is led by Carmel Mulcahy, Dublin City University Education lecturer and includes Frieda McGovern, Principal of North Bay Educate Together National School, Paddie Murphy, Principal of Rathfarnham Educate Together National School and Mary Kelleher, a parent activist with many years experience of working on an Ethical Curriculum Committee in the Educate Together schools. The process has been endorsed by successive national conferences and has the full support of Educate Together’s board of directors.

The Pack is obtainable from Educate Together’s head office and costs €25 for non-members and €10 for members of Educate Together

Educate Together wishes new Minister for Education and Science the very best in her new post

Educate Together would like to take the opportunity to congratulate our new Minister for Education and Science, Mary Hanafin, on her appointment.

We look forward to working with the Minister at such an exciting time in the evolution of the Irish Primary school system. Educate Together is firmly committed to the concepts of partnership in governance in education and look forward to meeting Ms. Hanafin to discuss matters of common concern in the near future.

Speaking at one of the last official functions undertaken by her predecessor, Noel Dempsey, Paul Rowe CEO of Educate Together paid tribute to key achievements made during his time in office. He stated that the five-year funding envelope for the school building programme and the introduction of a fair, transparent and objective set of criteria for prioritising building projects would probably be seen as great benefits to those working in primary education far into the future. Educate Together wishes him well in his new post.

President Mary McAleese Visits Bray School Project National School

On Friday 1st October, the Bray School Project National School had the honour of playing host to the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese to unveil a spectacular sculpture, unique for a primary school in this country, by artist Robert McColgan. Parents, children, staff of he school were joined by many from the Bray community in warmly welcoming Mary McAlesse on the day of her re-election as President and at the first official engagement of her new term of office.

‘Millennium Cone’ is a large scale work in earth, stone, copper and glass. It is situated to the rear of the school between the school building and the Killarney Road. It was created by Robert McColgan at the invitation of the School Principal, Kieran Griffin.

The Cone symbolises child learning and growing, their life marked by ceremonies, celebrations and different life events. The space and form of the Cone recall early Celtic mounding and hollowing. It connects our present with our past and our future. In addition to its function as a work of art and its outstanding aesthetic effort and visual impact, the Cone will also function as a performance area. The first performance to take place in the Cone was a specially written musical piece by composer Shaun Davey for the children of the school and a local piper.

Minister Noel Dempsey Visits Griffeen Valley Educate Together

In one of his last official engagements in the office of Minister of Education and Science, Noel Dempsey T.D. visited the first “design and build” primary school. This spectacular new building houses the Griffeen Valley Educate Together National School in Lucan Co. Dublin. The building is also the temporary home for the Castaheaney Educate Together National School that opened just this September. The building was constructed by Western Building Systems Ltd. and was completed in a five month schedule. It is a timber framed building with exceptional light and acoustic characteristics. The building and site are totally owned by the Department of Education and Science.

Principal teacher, Tomas O’ Dúlaing, gave the Minister a tour of the school and expressed the whole school community’s appreciation for the response of the Department to their urgent accommodation needs. Tomas stated that “primary schools are the perfect environment to attempt to tease out social issues, address changes in Irish society and educate future generations about the positive aspect of social diversity. This new school is an attribute to all the parents and friends who committed thousand of hours of their spare time to make this school a reality.”

Minister Dempsey said that he was delighted with the outcome on this project and his Department will be using the experience gained to deliver other urgently required school accommodation. He thanked all involved with the project and wished the school and its pupils every success for the future.

The school is the second Educate Together school in the Lucan area. It is the first school working with Educate Together’s national patronage to move into permanent accommodation. The school has moved from scout den, through prefabs to permanent building in a record three years.

Educate Together is determined to work with other education partners, local authorities and the Department to bring forward the day when schools are provided in good time as families move into new housing areas. The Griffeen Valley experience shows how quickly high-quality permanent building can be provided once the necessary funding, political will and organisational structures are put in place.

Tullamore Educate Together Appoint First Principal

Tullamore Educate Together N. S., which was established in September, are pleased to announce the appointment of , Fionnuala Morgan as the Principal. Fionnuala is a highly regarded teacher and Tullamore resident, with 22 years of experience working in a variety of schools. Safie Maken Finlay, the Chairperson of the acting Board of Management, says that Fionnuala has excellent attributes and qualifications, which will prove invaluable for a Principal in an Educate Together School. Ms. Maken Finlay adds that the parents are delighted that the school will be led by a teacher of Fionnuala’s calibre and experience.

Highly Successful Pre-enrolment Launch For Balbriggan ETNS

The Committee of the Balbriggan Educate Together Association (BETA) were overjoyed to reach the Department of Education’s enrolment requirement for a new primary school. A pre-enrolment day was held last Saturday during which over 70 families enrolled their children in the new Educate Together School that the committee are working to set up for September 2005.

“We are absolutely delighted things are going so well for us,” said Frank Mongey, Chairperson of the Association and parent of one of the children enrolled. “In the past it would have been unusual for a new school to have achieved the Department of Education requirements so quickly,” he said, “it reflects the urgent need for additional primary school places in Balbriggan and surrounding areas.”

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For further information please contact the Educate Together National Office;
E: info@educatetogether.ie Tel:01 4292500, Fax:01 4292502
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© Educate Together, 2004