National school
Encyclopedia
In education in the Republic of Ireland
, a national school is a type of primary school that is financed directly by the State, but administered jointly by the State, a patron body, and local representatives. There are other forms of primary school, generally private denominational schools attached to secondary schools - unlike their second level counterparts, these primary level private schools receive no support from the state.
In national schools, most major policies such as the curriculum and teacher salaries and conditions are managed by the State through the Department of Education and Science. Minor policies of the school are managed by local people, often directed by a member of the clergy
, as representative of the patron, through a local board of management. Most primary schools in Ireland fall into this category, which is a pre-independence
concept.
in 1831, were originally multi-denominational, with a six-member board of two Roman Catholics, two Church of Ireland, and two Presbyterians. There was strict delimitation between religious and non-religious education, where the teacher had to declare that religious education was beginning, hang a sign on the wall indicating that religious education was in process, and remove all religious symbols and objects from sight when religious education finished. Also, parents had the right to remove their children from this period of religious education if it conflicted with their religious beliefs. Lastly, schools who failed to abide by these rules or who refused admissions of different faiths to the patron were denied state funding. These rules largely remain in place today, but are no longer well recognised by the State, the patron bodies, or the general public.
In the nineteenth century, in a climate of historical animosity between the churches, the multi-denominational system was strongly opposed: the established church (Protestant Church of Ireland), though the church of the minority, held a special position and a right to government support in promoting Protestantism. Both the Roman Catholic Church, which was emerging from a period of suppression, and the Presbyterians, who had also suffered under the penal laws, had sought state support for schools of their own tradition. In particular Bishop James Doyle was an early proponent, seeking to improve on the informal hedge school
system.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, first the Catholic Church, and later the Protestant churches conceded to the state, and accepted the "all religions together" legal position. The result was that by the end of the nineteenth century the system had become increasingly denominational, with individuals choosing to attend schools primarily catering to children of their own religion. However, the legal position de jure
, that all national schools are multi-denominational, remains to this day. Although, since the establishment of the Free State consistent pressure has been exerted by the Catholic Church to drop the multi-denominational legal position, this has never been conceded by the state. A report was submitted to government in 1953 showing more than 90% of the schools were attended by only one denomination - that most National Schools were de facto
denominational. Changes in the Rules for National Schools were introduced in 1965 and 1973 allowing for the first time integration of religious education into the curriculum. Today, following many years of immigration for the first time in Ireland, a large majority of the National Schools cater for more than one religion. Today National Schools are both de jure
and de facto
multi-denominational.
, there were 3,279 national schools, broken down by denominational patronage as follows:
There is a widespread misunderstanding in Ireland as to the religious nature of national schools - for instance, there is no such thing as a Catholic national school (and none is so named) - people of all religions being taught together in the same school is at the core of what national schooling in Ireland means, and all of the national schools have "no religious discrimination at entry" as part of their ethos. However, Section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 provides that a school does not violate anti-discrimination legislation where "it admits persons of a particular religious denomination in preference to others or it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of that denomination and, in the case of a refusal, it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school". Although recently introduced religious discrimination, primarily by the Catholic Church, is incompatible with the Equal Status Act, the Equality Authority has thus far failed to react against it.
Ethos, or characteristic spirit, is an important concept in the any legal understanding of education in Ireland. It is best defined (legally) in the 1998 Education Act. "the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school"
Co-education is the predominant form of school, with 2,915 co-educational schools, and 364 single-sex schools predominantly located in larger towns and cities. However, even in Dublin and Cork, the two largest cities, co-educational schools predominate.
In 2008, the Irish Primary Principals Network
, among other groups and individuals, called for fresh thinking in both the areas of funding and governance of national schools, as well as other types of primary school. Many feel this is a move towards complete secularisation of such schools, by removing the religious patronage and possibly having control of the schools handed over to the state.
In the past, local people were expected to contribute towards capital expenses of the school, whilst teachers' salaries are paid by the state. The day-to-day business of the school is managed by a principal or headteacher, as with other schools. However, the state oversees the curriculum
and makes regular inspection
s to ensure that standards are kept and national policies are followed.
Education in the Republic of Ireland
The levels of education in Ireland are primary, secondary and higher education. In recent years further education has grown immensely. Growth in the economy since the 1960s has driven much of the change in the education system. Education in Ireland is free at all levels, including college , but...
, a national school is a type of primary school that is financed directly by the State, but administered jointly by the State, a patron body, and local representatives. There are other forms of primary school, generally private denominational schools attached to secondary schools - unlike their second level counterparts, these primary level private schools receive no support from the state.
In national schools, most major policies such as the curriculum and teacher salaries and conditions are managed by the State through the Department of Education and Science. Minor policies of the school are managed by local people, often directed by a member of the clergy
Clergy
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given religion. A clergyman, churchman or cleric is a member of the clergy, especially one who is a priest, preacher, pastor, or other religious professional....
, as representative of the patron, through a local board of management. Most primary schools in Ireland fall into this category, which is a pre-independence
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
concept.
History
National schools, established by the British Government with the Stanley LetterStanley letter
The Stanley letter is a letter written in 1831 which helped the British Government to establish legal basis for national schools in Ireland. The letter was written two years after Daniel O'Connell had brought Catholic Emancipation to Ireland and was penned by the Chief Secretary for Ireland,...
in 1831, were originally multi-denominational, with a six-member board of two Roman Catholics, two Church of Ireland, and two Presbyterians. There was strict delimitation between religious and non-religious education, where the teacher had to declare that religious education was beginning, hang a sign on the wall indicating that religious education was in process, and remove all religious symbols and objects from sight when religious education finished. Also, parents had the right to remove their children from this period of religious education if it conflicted with their religious beliefs. Lastly, schools who failed to abide by these rules or who refused admissions of different faiths to the patron were denied state funding. These rules largely remain in place today, but are no longer well recognised by the State, the patron bodies, or the general public.
In the nineteenth century, in a climate of historical animosity between the churches, the multi-denominational system was strongly opposed: the established church (Protestant Church of Ireland), though the church of the minority, held a special position and a right to government support in promoting Protestantism. Both the Roman Catholic Church, which was emerging from a period of suppression, and the Presbyterians, who had also suffered under the penal laws, had sought state support for schools of their own tradition. In particular Bishop James Doyle was an early proponent, seeking to improve on the informal hedge school
Hedge school
A hedge school is the name given to an educational practice in 18th and 19th century Ireland, so called due to its rural nature. It came about as local educated men began an oral tradition of teaching the community...
system.
In the second half of the nineteenth century, first the Catholic Church, and later the Protestant churches conceded to the state, and accepted the "all religions together" legal position. The result was that by the end of the nineteenth century the system had become increasingly denominational, with individuals choosing to attend schools primarily catering to children of their own religion. However, the legal position de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
, that all national schools are multi-denominational, remains to this day. Although, since the establishment of the Free State consistent pressure has been exerted by the Catholic Church to drop the multi-denominational legal position, this has never been conceded by the state. A report was submitted to government in 1953 showing more than 90% of the schools were attended by only one denomination - that most National Schools were de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
denominational. Changes in the Rules for National Schools were introduced in 1965 and 1973 allowing for the first time integration of religious education into the curriculum. Today, following many years of immigration for the first time in Ireland, a large majority of the National Schools cater for more than one religion. Today National Schools are both de jure
De jure
De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....
and de facto
De facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
multi-denominational.
Current status
Patronage of a national school is a privilege normally given to those who provide initial financial support, and, until recently, required a local annual contribution. With decreasing support for the churches in Ireland, the local contribution was recently abolished., there were 3,279 national schools, broken down by denominational patronage as follows:
| Catholic | 3,032 |
| Church of Ireland Church of Ireland The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church... |
183 |
| Multi-denominational | 40 |
| Presbyterian | 14 |
| Inter-denominational | 5 |
| Muslim Muslim A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable... |
2 |
| Methodist | 1 |
| Jewish | 1 |
| Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual... |
1 |
| Quaker | 1 |
There is a widespread misunderstanding in Ireland as to the religious nature of national schools - for instance, there is no such thing as a Catholic national school (and none is so named) - people of all religions being taught together in the same school is at the core of what national schooling in Ireland means, and all of the national schools have "no religious discrimination at entry" as part of their ethos. However, Section 7(3)(c) of the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2004 provides that a school does not violate anti-discrimination legislation where "it admits persons of a particular religious denomination in preference to others or it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of that denomination and, in the case of a refusal, it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school". Although recently introduced religious discrimination, primarily by the Catholic Church, is incompatible with the Equal Status Act, the Equality Authority has thus far failed to react against it.
Ethos, or characteristic spirit, is an important concept in the any legal understanding of education in Ireland. It is best defined (legally) in the 1998 Education Act. "the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school"
Co-education is the predominant form of school, with 2,915 co-educational schools, and 364 single-sex schools predominantly located in larger towns and cities. However, even in Dublin and Cork, the two largest cities, co-educational schools predominate.
In 2008, the Irish Primary Principals Network
Irish Primary Principals Network
The Irish Primary Principals Network is an organisation which represents primary school principals in Ireland, and supports their continued professional and personal development...
, among other groups and individuals, called for fresh thinking in both the areas of funding and governance of national schools, as well as other types of primary school. Many feel this is a move towards complete secularisation of such schools, by removing the religious patronage and possibly having control of the schools handed over to the state.
In the past, local people were expected to contribute towards capital expenses of the school, whilst teachers' salaries are paid by the state. The day-to-day business of the school is managed by a principal or headteacher, as with other schools. However, the state oversees the curriculum
Curriculum
See also Syllabus.In formal education, a curriculum is the set of courses, and their content, offered at a school or university. As an idea, curriculum stems from the Latin word for race course, referring to the course of deeds and experiences through which children grow to become mature adults...
and makes regular inspection
Inspection
An inspection is, most generally, an organized examination or formal evaluation exercise. In engineering activities inspection involves the measurements, tests, and gauges applied to certain characteristics in regard to an object or activity...
s to ensure that standards are kept and national policies are followed.
| Class name | In Irish Irish language Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of... |
Typical Ages | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Junior Infants | Naí Shóisir | 4-5 | Subjects of English English literature English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J.... , Irish Irish language Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of... , mathematics Mathematics Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity... , nature Nature Nature, in the broadest sense, is equivalent to the natural world, physical world, or material world. "Nature" refers to the phenomena of the physical world, and also to life in general... , religion Religion Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to... , art Art Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect.... and physical education Physical education Physical education or gymnastics is a course taken during primary and secondary education that encourages psychomotor learning in a play or movement exploration setting.... are introduced |
| Senior Infants | Naí Shinsir | 5-6 | |
| First Class | Rang a hAon | 6-7 | Subjects of geography Geography Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes... and history History History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians... are introduced |
| Second Class | Rang a Dó | 7-8 | |
| Third Class | Rang a Trí | 8-9 | |
| Fourth Class | Rang a Ceathair | 9-10 | |
| Fifth Class | Rang a Cúig | 10-11 | |
| Sixth Class | Rang a Sé | 11-12 |