No enrolment queues for ‘outside’ children

YOUR front page story with its very evocative photograph (January 3) showing the extreme measures undertaken by prospective Tralee parents for a school place for their children for September 2010 is one of the most amazing stories I have read in a long teaching career.

I reflect on the story as the retired principal of a greatly over-subscribed English Catholic school that had significant Mercy order input over the years.

Although it was great to hear how committed Tralee parents are to achieving the best education for their children, it was sad to read that so many of them felt obliged to camp out for five days and nights in below-zero temperatures in order to secure a place in a well-resourced school.

Surely the trustees, through the board of management, could devise a ballot of all those outside the catchment area desiring a place at Mercy Mounthawk secondary school.

Such a system would be fairer for all concerned, especially children from disadvantaged backgrounds. It would also avoid the annual need for all-night queues in most inclement weather.

More to the point, it would ensure that children of disabled and lone parents, and new Irish, had an equal chance of obtaining a place in a great school.

Mercy order founder Catherine McAuley would probably have gone even further to ensure a preference for the poor, the disadvantaged and the marginalised. I wonder what she would have to say about the present unchristian, inhumane and unfair system of school enrolment?

Alan Whelan

Carnahone

Beaufort

Co Kerry