“To teach well, kindness and patience though indispensable will not suffice without a solid foundation of a good education and a judicious method of imparting knowledge. If we in Catholic schools are not efficient teachers, our schools must degenerate, our scholars will seek education elsewhere” – Catherine McAuley
Primary Education
Catherine McAuley’s involvement with Primary Education pre-dates the founding of our Congregation. The first classroom in Baggot Street opened in 1827. Her aim was to provide Catholic Education for poor children but not wanting to set up a “ghetto-like” school she immediately aligned herself with the National School system. Initially our schools had a Sister teaching in every classroom. This remained the case well into the 20th century. Over the years the number of Sisters in primary education has gradually decreased. At this point in time very few of our schools have Sisters on the staff and fewer still have a Sister-Principal. However our schools still continue to have a vibrant Catholic/Mercy ethos.
Our society in the 21st Century is enormously different from those first one hundred and fifty years and the rate of change continues at a rapid pace. This dramatic change calls for us to look again at our Primary Schools to ensure that into the future Catholic schooling remains an option for those who wish to avail of it. Having assessed our inability to carry the trusteeship of our primary schools into the future we initiated a process of discussion with each diocesan Bishop. At this point we have decided, in principle, to entrust the Trusteeship of Mercy Primary Schools to the Bishop of each diocese. This process of transfer will take place over a period of three years. It will ensure that catholic education remains an option for those who desire it for their children.
In keeping with our Foundress’ call for her Sisters to be efficient teachers, some of our Sisters have, in recent years, trained in a Reading Recovery Programme. This is a highly effective short-term intervention of one-to-one tutoring for low-achieving infants. The intervention is most effective when it is available at a particular age to all students who need it. It is used as a supplement to good classroom teaching. Some of our trained Sisters offer this service on a voluntary basis. Many Sisters across the province are also involved in teaching English to foreign nationals.
Post Primary Education
Post-Primary Education in the Mercy tradition is committed to holistic development and to the achievement of the full potential of each student, particularly those who are experiencing difficulties or lack support. It is a process, informed and influenced by the teaching and example of Jesus Christ and is conducted in an atmosphere of care, respect and joy.
The Post-Primary school teacher deals with a variety of age groups usually from twelve to eighteen or nineteen years – a three year Junior Cycle followed by an optional Transition year. Students in Transition Year follow a school designed, broad ranging curriculum catering for the holistic development of the student. Students do a work experience module in an area that interests them. A two year senior cycle. follows with a wide ranging subject choice to cater for individual talents and abilities.
They can choose to take an academic Leaving Certificate that is examined by the Examination Commission at the end of the two year cycle. This certificate is the gateway to Higher Level Universities and Colleges. Alternatively, they can choose The Leaving Certificate Applied that is modular based with a high practical rather than academic. Assessment is done on an ongoing basis by their teachers coupled with written and oral examinations set by the Examination Commission. It is the gateway to apprenticeships and Further Colleges of Education.
When the Mercy presence in the twenty six dioceses in Ireland united to form one Mercy Congregation July 1994 an evaluation of the various ministries where Sisters worked took place. Our involvement in Education was a priority and there was a commitment to continue there. An analysis of the falling number of Sisters involved and their age profile revealed that the Trusteeship of our schools required attention. Other Congregations involved in Post Primary Education were equally concerned.
In 2007 five Catholic Religious Congregations engaged in Post Primary for over three and a half centuries – Daughters of Charity, Presentation Sisters, Sisters of the Christian Retreat, Sisters of Mercy, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart – have, in the spirit of their Founders, together established CEIST – Catholic Education an Irish School Trust. This provides a new moral and legal trustee framework enabling their schools to continue to offer Post Primary Catholic education into the future as a viable option and as an integral part of the Irish school system. The Congregations invested heavily in setting up and running the CEIST Trust body.
CEIST is Patron of 108 Catholic Post Primary schools, 70 of those are Mercy schools. It is co-Patron of 34 Community schools and Colleges. CEIST is built on the founding vision of the Five Congregations, emphasising the dignity and rights of the human person, empowerment of the most vulnerable in society and enabling young people to become catalysts for social transformation throughout the world.
Most of the CEIST schools are co-educational and have an open enrolment. While they are Catholic, they accept students of all faiths and none provided that their parents contract to uphold the catholic ethos and the catholic values the school promotes, respect, justice, compassion and forgiveness.
Our Post Primary Schools are supported by the CEIST trust body operating from a central office and they delegate the day to day running of our schools to Boards of Management and the Principal. Schools are accountable to them in all matters pertaining to the operation of the school, appointing and training Boards of Management, managing school Finance, Personnel, Capital expenditure, and an annual report from the school is submitted to CEIST on all matters concerning the operation of the school.
CEIST provides valuable advice to schools, and promote ongoing professional development of staff, Parental involvement by way of active Parent Councils, Student Councils, and close links with their local Parish Community.
One in six second level students in Ireland attend a CEIST school.
At the same time as CEIST was established the Congregation set up the EDUCENA Foundation for the purpose of preserving the Catholic ethos of their schools and ensuring that the properties held in trust for the purpose of providing Catholic education, would be secured and efficiently managed. Both CEIST and EDUCENA work in tandem managing and supporting our schools. CEIST appoints Sisters to Boards of Management of our schools serving as Chairperson/member(s). Sisters are also members of the Board of Directors of CEIST and EDUCENA.
The incoming students from Primary Level have normally been taught by one person, so a wide variety of teachers can be both challenging and interesting for them when they progress to second level.
Post Primary Education is student centred and many helps are provided for the academically weak and for those who have behavioural difficulties. Patience and perseverance can work wonders and teachers strive to instill in their charges a sense of their true worth and an appreciation of their innate gifts. In this way the obvious pitfall of the Points System at Leaving Cert, and it’s over emphasis on amassing high grades, can be played down.
We have a supportive role with our students and staff in their joys and sorrows, in bereavements, and in the ups and downs of life. Indeed we gain as much as we give, and contact with young people keep us on our toes, and young at heart.
As the late Oscar Romero put it:
‘We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
We are workers, not master builders,
Ministers, not Messiahs.
We are prophets of a future not our own’
