THE RIGHT TO PRACTICE YOUR BELIEFS
First off, the Catherine Seeley story. It's the stuff of
films really, isn't it? Young, ambitious teacher with a strong, (if misguided)
belief system bullied out of her job by a pack of guys with a contrary, strong,
(and even more misguided) belief system. But will it all end with good
conquering over evil (so to speak) or is it just another case of Groundhog Day
Norn Ireland style?
The Question
Catherine Seeley a nationalist teacher, was driven out of
the Boys Model school in a unionist area by on-line threats. She did get
herself elected as a Sinn Fein Councillor but in our so called shared society
what excuse is this for the Protestant Coalition group to object to her
employment at the school. Is sectarianism getting worse in our community? Will
no one stand up to these bully-boys? Yet again where are our political leaders?
Who is raising this in the Assembly? Should this effect our voting at the next
election and if so how?
One of the main arguments against Integrated Education is that our state schools are already open to everyone so there is no need to establish systematically 'mixed' schools. Oh yes? Why then, is the Protestant Coalition in such a tizzy about a Sinn Fein councillor teaching in what they perceive as one of 'their' schools? It was very reassuring to see the staff and pupils of the Boys Model standing up against these bully boys and it is clear that this front line school has long shown great leadership in providing a positive role Model (get it?) within a highly inflammatory community. But sometimes in this society the way in which we are perceived may differ a great deal from what we do. To the Protestant Coalition in North Belfast the Boys Model is clearly a bastion of Protestantism and the school is therefore liable to come under fire for any breach of that position. But how long are we going to let these bullies away with their threatening behaviour? Surely every human being has the right to practise his/her beliefs. And surely the school authorities are the ones who should be deciding who teaches in our schools and not some thugs with an ipad and a paintbrush! In the meantime I hope the police are on to their case and will be prepared to prosecute them for incitement to hatred. This law has existed for some time now and it's about time it was rigorously, systematically and visibly applied.
ReplyDeleteSo just don't let me hear anyone say we don't need Integrated Education here in Norn Ireland because while we still have 'us' and 'them' schools, or at least what are perceived as 'us' and 'them' schools, we will have no hope of overcoming such overt hatred.
Oh and yet again where were our politicians in all this? No Peter and the boys, no big Mike out there condemning the threats. Once again all went silent up there on the hill. Now who in their right mind would vote for politicians who again and again, in their silence, condone violence?
Catherine Seeley conducted herself impeccably during the whole debacle and for me her pupils were the ones who showed the way forward. The behavior that was highlighted is deeply ingrained in those communities which is rather sad and to a large extent not really their fault. Perhaps they have been brought up with these misconceived ideas. I agree wholeheartedly with your views on the 'us' and 'them' schools. Until we have fully integrated schools there can be no way forward. As for the cowardly politicians who remained tight lipped when really they should have stood up for what was right-no surprises there. Maybe it's time for some of them to undo their flies and check if they still have the balls to step out side their comfort zone and stop worrying about their salaries. No doubt we'll all vote them in again. Which begs the question. Is it really us who need to step outside our comfort zones?
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