What is Educate Together?
Educate Together is the representative organisation of the Educate Together schools and associations throughout the Republic of Ireland. It owes its origins to the movement to establish new multi-denominational primary schools, which emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
By 1984, when Educate Together was established, there were three schools and the organisation acted as their co-ordinating body. Since then the movement has grown considerably. Today there are more than 80 primary schools and 13 Educate Together second level schools around the country. The organisation became a company limited by guarantee in 1998 and has charitable status. It has a small national office which provides representative and support services to existing schools and start up groups. The Directors and members of the company work in a voluntary capacity. Educate Together aims to meet a growing need in Irish society for schools that recognise the developing diversity of Irish life and the modern need for democratic management structures. In particular, Educate Together guarantees children and parents of all faiths and none equal respect in the operation and governing of education.
What is an Educate Together School? Educate Together schools are fully recognised by the Irish Department of Education and Science and work under the same regulations and funding structures as other national schools. However, they have a distinct ethos or governing spirit. This has been defined in the following terms: Multi-denominational i.e. all children having equal rights of access to the school, and children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds being equally respected. The Learn Together Curriculum is delivered covering a wide range of religious, moral, social and ethical issues, with no specific emphasis on any one religion. Co-educational and committed to encouraging all children to explore their full range of abilities and opportunities. Child centred in their approach to education. This means that teaching is carried out according to the developmental interests of the child. Each child is encouraged to learn at his/her own pace and individual learning needs are met in so far as class size allows.
Interaction between teacher, child and parent is actively encouraged. It also means that the Board of Management of the school takes the educational interests of the children as its fundamental priority. In a school context, it is important to understand that the Board’s commitment is to all the children in the school whose interests must be considered equally. Democratically run with active participation by parents in the daily life of the school, whilst positively affirming the professional role of the teachers.
By 1984, when Educate Together was established, there were three schools and the organisation acted as their co-ordinating body. Since then the movement has grown considerably. Today there are more than 80 primary schools and 13 Educate Together second level schools around the country. The organisation became a company limited by guarantee in 1998 and has charitable status. It has a small national office which provides representative and support services to existing schools and start up groups. The Directors and members of the company work in a voluntary capacity. Educate Together aims to meet a growing need in Irish society for schools that recognise the developing diversity of Irish life and the modern need for democratic management structures. In particular, Educate Together guarantees children and parents of all faiths and none equal respect in the operation and governing of education.
What is an Educate Together School? Educate Together schools are fully recognised by the Irish Department of Education and Science and work under the same regulations and funding structures as other national schools. However, they have a distinct ethos or governing spirit. This has been defined in the following terms: Multi-denominational i.e. all children having equal rights of access to the school, and children of all social, cultural and religious backgrounds being equally respected. The Learn Together Curriculum is delivered covering a wide range of religious, moral, social and ethical issues, with no specific emphasis on any one religion. Co-educational and committed to encouraging all children to explore their full range of abilities and opportunities. Child centred in their approach to education. This means that teaching is carried out according to the developmental interests of the child. Each child is encouraged to learn at his/her own pace and individual learning needs are met in so far as class size allows.
Interaction between teacher, child and parent is actively encouraged. It also means that the Board of Management of the school takes the educational interests of the children as its fundamental priority. In a school context, it is important to understand that the Board’s commitment is to all the children in the school whose interests must be considered equally. Democratically run with active participation by parents in the daily life of the school, whilst positively affirming the professional role of the teachers.
