Written Submissions Consultation on the proposals for a curriculum in Education about Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics primar developments foráis sa bhunscolaíocht Consultation on the proposals for a curriculum in Education about Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics Written Submissions Written submissions are an important part of the NCCA consultation process. During consultation NCCA received 174 written submissions in total, 172 of which are available in this publication. Two contributors specifically requested not to be published. Aighneachtaí Scríofa Is cuid thábhachtach de phróiseas comhairliúcháin an CNCM iad na haighneachtaí scríofa. Le linn an chomhairliúcháin fuair an CNCM 174 aighneacht scríofa ar fad, a bhfuil 172 díobh ar fáil san fhoilseachán seo. Bhí beirt ar leith a chuir aighneachtaí isteach agus a d’iarr nach bhfoilseofaí a n-aighneacht. ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Contributors • Aidan Hart • Carmel Magee • Aine O Connell • Carmel Magner • Alice O Connor, Bernadette O Connor • Caroline Tully • Alma Leonard, Majella McCarthy, • Catholic Primary Schools Management Association Thelma Gileran, Colum Hammond, Barry • Cathy Burke Tierney • Cecelia Gavigan • An Forás Pátrúnachta • Celine Lynch • Ann Moran • Church Of Ireland General Synod Board of • Anne Cunningham Education • Anne Hession • Ciaran Burke • Anne Marie Kavanagh, Niamh McGuirk • Claire (Surname not provided) • Anne O’ Brien • Clare O’Callaghan • Anonymous • Clooneyquinn NS • Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools • Cloontagh NS • Atheist Ireland • Colette Savage • Ballinasloe & District Council Knights of St. • Colin J.A. O’Brien Columbanus • Commission for Education and Formation • Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan of the Irish Episcopal Conference • Bishop Denis Nulty • Community National School Management • Breandán Ó Bric Group • Breda Holmes, Helen Leacy and Sr Maureen • David Bracken, Maebh Enright Matthews SP • Deirdre Fahey • Brian Caball • Derry Diocesan Catechetical Centre • Brigid Bennet,Collette Hyland, Mairead • Desmond Sutton, Anne Buggy, Enda Hickey Johnston • Diocese of Elphin • Callystown NS ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Contributors • Dr Barbara O Toole • Global Citizenship School • Dr Daniel O’Connell • Global Schools: Primary Education for a Just World • Dr Dermot A Lane PP • Gwen O’Connell • Dr Eugene Duffy • Helen Leacy • Dromindoora NS • Holy Family Junior Primary School • Dublin Diocese Education Secretariat • INTO • Éamonn Mac Localainn • Irish Centre for Religious Education (ICRE) • Éanna Johnson Phd • James Walsh • Education Secretariat for the Archdioces of Cashel & Emily and Dioceses of Kerry • Jim and Breda Holmes • Elizabeth Byrt • Jim O’Connell • Enda Burke • Jim Boyle • EQUATE • Joan King • Fr Brendan Kyne • Joan Whelan • Fr Daniel Reynolds LC • Joe Humphreys • Fr Francis Nolan • Joe Searson • Fr Jim Kileen • John and Margaret Mallon • Fr John Bane • John Colgan • Fr John O’Keeffe • John Murphy • Fr Malachy Conlon • John (surname unclear) • Fr Michael Kennedy • Jones Irwin • Frank Harrington • Joseph Woulfe • Frank Murphy • Josephine Ryan • Gillian Crowley • Kathleen O’Dowd ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Contributors • Kieran Allen • Midleton CBS Primary School • Kilkishen NS • Miriam O’Sullivan Long • Kilmagner NS • Moyasta NS • Kilmore Diocesan Education Office • Naomi McCormick • Laurence Cassells • Ombudsman for Children • Linda O’Shea • Our Lady of Mercy Senior Primary School • Linda Kinch • Owen Keogh, Jim Hannon • M O’Sullivan • Páraic Mac Lochlainn • Maeve Mahon • Patricia & John McGonagle • Maire Corrigan • Patrician Primary School Newbridge • Maire Fitzgerald • Patrick Griffin • Maire Sheehy, Eamonn Power • Patrick J. McCabe • Mairead Harman • PJ Bracken • Margaret Buckley • Regina Lydon • Sr Maria Comerford • Rev Christopher Hayden PhD STL • Maria McSwiney • Rev Gerard Kenny • Marie Porter • Rev Prof Eamon Conway, Dr Kerry Greer, • Martina Mallen Dr John Murray, Dr Rik Van Nieuwenhove, • Mary Ann Collins Anne Hession, Dr Thomas Finnegan • Mary Cosgrove • Rev Thomas O’Byrne • Mary Whelan • Rose Burke • Maureen Hamilton • Sacred Heart NS Monaleen • Maureen Matthews • Scoil Bhríde, Athgarvan • Michael Quinn • Scoil Bhríde, Midleton • Midleton CBS Primary School • Scoil Mhuire Senior Primary School, Newbridge ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Contributors • Scoil Mhuire Sóisearach Newbridge • St Vincent’s GNS • Scoil Mhuire, Birr • Teresa McQuillan • Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, Tullow • Terry Leddy, Sr Anna Smith • Scoil na Naomh Uiligh, Newbridge • The Humanist Association • Scoil Náisiúnta Muire gan Smál, • Tomás Ó hÓistín, John Phelan, Timothy Termonfeckin Kelly • Seán Corkery • Tony Kealy • Seán Ó Loingsigh • Trócaire • Secular Schools Ireland Ltd • Una Mullowney • Sharon Delaney • Una Purcell • Simon Lewis • Whitegate NS Midleton • Sinéad McMahon • Sonia Murray • SPHE Network • Spiritan Education Trust Board • St Anne’s Special School • St Conleth & Mary’s Primary School • St John’s NS, Kenmare • St Mary’s Convent Primary School • St Michael’s NS (Parents), Newtown (x13) • St Michael’s NS, Newtown • St Michael’s NS, Newtown • St Mochuo’s Rathcoffey • St Oliver Plunkett NS, Ballina • St Peter’s NS ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Home Contributor Aine O'Connell ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Consultation on the proposals for a curriculum in Respondent’s details Name Áine O’Connell Position (if applicable) Primary School teacher Organisation (if applicable) Address 14 Cabra Park, Cabra, Dublin 7 Telephone Email [email protected] Date 30/3/2012 Is this response a personal view or is it made on behalf of an organisation? Personal c Organisation c Written submissions may be in English or Irish. Written submissions will be published online at the end of the consultation process. The proposals, as set out in the Consultation Paper for a new curriculum in Education about Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics, should form the basis of written submissions to the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). The Consultation Paper can be found here. Please send your submissions to: 1 FAO-ERB and Ethics Consultation, National Council of Curriculum and Assessment, 35 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2. Or email submissions to [email protected]. Three areas for consideration are listed below. 1. The proposals contained in the Consultation Paper for a curriculum in ERB and Ethics. Consider: The proposed aims of ERB and Ethics in relation to the overall curriculum The potential contribution ERB and Ethics may have to children’s learning The proposed features for the curriculum Other aspects you would like to see included. I have found in my classroom that faith development, more so than any other subject, gives children an opportunity to critically think. They reflect on who they are, how they should behave, what is important to them and ultimately about the meaning of their lives and their role in the world. This year we have had many heated debates in the classroom, about the meaning of life and what is ultimately important. Simply giving the children information on different religions around the world is no substitution for faith development. Children need to be encouraged to search for real meaning in their lives instead of superficially learning about different religions and traditions. 2. The potential contribution of a curriculum in ERB and Ethics Consider: Contribution to the experience of children and parents 2 Contribution to school communities Contribution to the role of teachers Suggestions to address issues of time allocation and curriculum overload. The themes and methodologies outlined in this new subject are very similar to those outlined in the SPHE curriculum. I think it would be far more efficient if new aspects of this curriculum were incorporated into the existing SPHE curriculum as teachers are under serious pressure with time. 3. Reflecting on the proposals for a curriculum in Education about Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics, please elaborate on your views and opinions. I have found that prayer has been a very positive influence on all the children in my class. It has helped them to relax, to reflect and most importantly to think of others. Prayer encourages the children to be grateful for what they have, pray for who they love and think about the suffering of others in the world on a daily basis. Prayer also helps children to reflect on what they want in life and what would may potentially fulfill them. Children in my classroom of all faiths have expressed how helpful engaging in daily prayer and meditation was in helping them to deal with problems in their lives. If children are simply learning about faith instead of developing and forming their own faith, their personal and spiritual growth will be seriously affected. 3 4 Home Contributor Alice O'Connor, Bernadette O'Connor ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Home Contributor Alma Leonard, Majella McCarthy, Thelma Gileran, Colum Hammond, Barry Tierney ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Home Contributor An Forás Pátrúnachta ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Home Contributor Ann Moran ncca.ie/consulation/erbe Consultation on the proposals for a curriculum in Respondent’s details Name Ann Moran Position (if applicable) Primary school teacher Organisation (if St. Brigid’s GNS, Glasnevin. applicable) Address 54 Glasilawn Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 11. Telephone 0872804621 Email [email protected] Date 26/01/2016 Is this response a personal view or is it made on behalf of an organisation? Personal Written submissions may be in English or Irish. Written submissions will be published online at the end