Parents at a busy Educate Together public meeting held last night in Goatstown spoke of their ‘frustration’ at the difficulties faced finding a school place for their children.
‘I want an equality-based school for my child but all the Educate Together schools within commutable distance have huge waiting lists’ said parent Jennifer Kelly. ‘A lot of my friends have children in Educate Together schools and are really happy with them, particularly the no uniform rule and first name terms for teachers. I want that for my child too.’
Gerry McKevitt of Educate Together described the Educate Together ethos to parents as equality-based, democratically run and child-centred. Coincidentally the meeting was held on International Women’s Day.
Said Gerry McKevitt: ‘The principle of co-education is one of the founding elements of the Educate Together charter.
All children, boy and girls, regardless of gender or religion are taught together. Educate Together schools also include programmes that counter gender stereotyping and promote equality in all aspects of life. Children explore the importance of challenging supposed ‘norms’ of behaviour that girls and boys face and are free to express themselves according to their own identity.’
Educate Together is one of the patrons applying for patronage of a new school in Goatstown/Stillorgan. The catchment area for the new school includes Milltown, Windy Arbour, a large part of Clonskeagh, part of Churchtown, Goatstown, Stillorgan and a large part of Dundrum
The school will open in temporary premises initially and the Department of Education and Skills is working to identify and procure a suitable permanent site for the school.
Interested parents can complete an Expression of Interest form here.
