T. FIND it amazing that the 1article on Catholic schools in your issue of February 28 did not provoke more correspondence than the single letter published on March 14. Is this a measure of parental interest in education?
have always felt that the relationships between Catholic schools should be more advanced than those in State schools. The fact that Catholics are a community within the community would seem to bring parents, managers. diocesan authorities. etc., together in a spirit of Christian cooperation. Yet often the reverse seems to apply; the relationship between parents and Church authorities seems less friendly than in State schools.
In spite of research demonstrating the importance of par
ental co-operation it would seem to be heretical to suggest that a parent should be appointed to a board of managers. Parent-teacher associations appear to he regarded as subversive organisations rather than a potential means of creating a united educational effort. Parents and schools seem to be suspicious rivals rather than partners. Are parents generally apathetic? Do we really know what Catholic education is? Are we, as parents, prepared to take the trouble to find out? If we are ignorant of educational matters, is it the fault of the school authorities? I hope you will publish more reasoned articles on educational issues. particularly parental responsibility.
T, V. Brimelow Leeds 15