Small schools lifeblood of communities

Dear sir - I refer to an article which ran in last week's Meath Chronicle re: the closure or amalgamation of small schools in Co Meath. The article, by Paul Murphy, featured the opinions of a senator and comments by the principal of a school in Co Meath. No prior notice of this story's publication was given to any of the schools mentioned in the article. Our school was one of those schools mentioned as a school which is to "be singled out for the axe", to quote Senator Thomas Byrne. I wish to point out that the Department of Education has no plans whatsoever to either close or amalgamate our school. In fact a single phone call to the Department of Education would have provided Mr Murphy with this information. The Department would also have informed him that it is not within its remit to decide to close or amalgamate a school. Such a decision is a board of management decision. He would also have learned, and I quote a senior official at the Department, that "it is only if a school's total enrolment drops below eight pupils that the decision is taken out of the board's hands and taken over by the DES". This is indeed a difficult time for all of us in education and for all children right around the country, but most especially those who through no fault of their own, now find vital services to which they are entitled are being withdrawn. If the Meath Chronicle was truly concerned about or committed to the plight of these children and their parents, it should be jumping up and down about the proposed cuts to learning support and resource services to children in all schools, but most especially in small schools and Deis Schools, right around this county, which are coming down the track in January? What cuts if any, will be made in the NCCA, the PDST, the Teaching Council, or are all the cuts to be made only at the coalface of education? Now there is a story worthy of investigation, time and ink. Small schools are the lifeblood and backbone of small rural parishes the length and breadth of this country. The joy of the small country school has to experienced to be understood. Communities must club together now more than ever before, stem the tide of this scare-mongering, be vocal in promoting our local schools and encourage all local inhabitants to attend their local school. After all, some of our world renowned and most prolific writers are past pupils of small schools - John B Keane, Brian McMahon, Breándán " hEithir and John McGahern to name but a few, as are many of our top journalists like John Waters. Parents, do not believe all your read and hear about pending closures, bring your child along to his/her local school - we're sure you'll like what you'll find there. Great opportunities await your child there, don't run scared to the bigger town school further from your home on foot of these alarmist reports. Dunsany NS is very much open for business and has a healthy projected enrolment for 2012/13. An open night for all current and prospective parents will be held on Wednesday 25 January 2012 from 7pm-8.30pm, to which all are welcome. Yours, Catherine Bockett, Principal, Dunsany NS.