School Uniforms 23/9/08
Statement by John Carr, INTO General Secretary, on School Uniforms
23 September 2008
School uniform policy sensible - INTO
The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation today described recommendations by the Minister for Education and Science on school uniform policy as sensible and practical.
John Carr, General Secretary of the INTO, said the Minister's announcement reflected the policy of reasonable accommodation that primary schools have adopted towards the wearing of particular items of clothing.
“In general terms, the wearing of religious symbols or religious clothing has not been problematic in Irish primary schools. Boards of Management, irrespective of the ethos of the school, appear to have adopted a pragmatic approach," said Carr.
He said a straight forward example of this is where schools have permitted the wearing of particular items of clothing but requested that the colour of the item of clothing be consistent with the school uniform. “The INTO supports policies such as this which offer reasonable accommodation,” said Carr. “In addition, the INTO believes that clothing which acts as a barrier to regular school communication and appropriate interpersonal interaction associated with a school setting should not be accommodated,” said Carr. He also said schools must be free to consider issues such as the health and safety of children, particularly in relation to particular school activities.
In a written submission to the Minister for Integration earlier this year, the INTO argued that school Boards would welcome general guidelines in this area. The union stated clearly that such guidelines should be, in the main, non-prescriptive, promote the good practice that already exists in Irish primary schools and support Boards in working out specific details at local level.
ENDS.