Discipline, not religion, key to school choice

DISCIPLINE is more important than religious education when parents choose a school for their children, a study has revealed.

Eight out of 10 parents said a school’s approach to discipline was a key factor when choosing where their children should be educated.

And while nine out of 10 parents said a Catholic school was their first choice, more than half disagreed that the religious, moral and spiritual education was the most important aspect of primary schooling.

The survey, published yesterday by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference, found seven out of 10 parents said they were hugely influenced by the quality of the education provided as a basis for secondary school when choosing a school for their children.

The all-island survey of parents attending Catholic primary schools also found that 95% of parents were happy with their decision to send their children to that school.

Chair of the Bishops’ Commission, Bishop Leo O’Reilly said they were conscious that very little, if any, research had been done on the wishes of parents when drawing up their policy on future provision by the Catholic Church in the primary sector last year.

He said it was “very encouraging” that less than 6% said their trust in the primary school to provide a safe environment was lessened because it was under the control of a Catholic parish.

He was concerned, however, that while almost 60% of parents felt that having a school under Catholic management was important or very important, a substantial minority had a different view.

The survey was carried out by the Council for Research and Development of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference during October and November last year.

About 1,000 questionnaires were distributed to parents of school-going children and 503 were returned and analysed.

Bishop O’Reilly said the Catholic Church was aware for some time that there was a “substantial minority” of parents who do not necessarily want their children to be in schools under Catholic management.

The survey found 58% of parents believed it was important that a school be under the management of a Catholic parish and 63% believed that the churches should continue to have a prominent role in the provision of primary education.

But Bishop O’Reilly said there were 40% of parents who might have different wishes and that this was a big challenge for the Department of Education and Science. The bishop added it was the responsibility of the department, not the Catholic Church, to find out what sort of education parents wanted for their children.

Obviously, he said, the number of parents happy with sending their children to a Catholic school was not reflected in the number of massgoers every Sunday.

“I think people still value what they get in Catholic schools, despite the fact that they do not go to church every Sunday,” he said.

School of thought

* A total of 90% of parents said the Catholic school that their child attended was their first choice.

* A total of 70% said daily prayer in the school and celebration of religious feasts and events were important.

* Almost 70% disagreed with the view that the sacraments of first holy communion and confirmation are best prepared for outside of the school setting.

* About 60% believe teachers should promote the religious life of the school.