Below
is a selection of open-ended responses that relate to the question:
'And if you were deciding
where to send your children to school, would you prefer a school with
children of only your own religion or a mixed-religion school?'
Cross-community projects and integrated
schools do help.
I don't care about religions in Northern
Ireland but if someone is ignorant to me about my religion I will
bite back.
I don't find it important to know whether
people are Protestants or Catholics as it doesn't make a difference
to me.
I don't mind any religion as long as
they don't mind me. Every one should forget their differences, it
would be an easier life.
I feel that mixed/integrated schools
are a good idea as they give children a chance to mix with people
of all religions. I felt that mixed religion school trips which I
attended were a good idea.
I feel that there should be more integrated
schools. I go to an integrated school & I feel very welcome since
I am of different religion. This helps young people adapt at a young
age.
I feel there should be more mixed schools.
This way people will see that it is the personality of the person
that counts not their religion, or their beliefs.
I have experienced many people saying
and wondering how Northern Ireland is settling down after the chaos
in the 1960s/1970s. This I find major offence with! These people do
not realise that only a small percentage of what I call extremists
are fighting and the majority in N. Ireland live perfectly normal
lives. I feel that only by setting up more projects for schools for
children at young ages to form relationships with people & other religions,
will the prejudice and bigotry that people have in their hearts soften
and be filled with knowledge + understanding.
[...] Although I would send my children
to a school of our own religion as sometimes certain schools, because
they are mixed, will not have Christian SU's and the certain things
that I want my children to learn.
I think that by trying to mix religions
it causes trouble. I have witnessed fighting in integrated schools
over religion. I think things should be left alone most Catholics
& Protestants will never see eye to eye. There's too much bad past
to make a good future.
I think that community relations are
starting to develop more because of integrated schools. Without a
doubt they are the way forward.
I think young people nowadays don't have
a problem with people from different communities; it is their elders
that have lived with the troubles, who have sometimes bad opinions
and therefore pass it onto their children. It has nothing to do with
religion - just politics, however people just stereotype. I go to
a mixed school and it's taught me to respect anyone and everyone,
if they respect me.
I would like them mixed (schools + estates),
because I like mixing and knowing about other religions, but would
fear for violence between groups.
I would send my children to a school
of only my religion because at my Integrated School I got beaten up
for being a Catholic.
Integrated primary education is very
useful and helps Catholics + Protestants to get on from a young age.
Integrated schools are good because kids
learn to accept and respect each other at an early age.
Personally I don't care what religion
people are. But there are people with very selfish and old-fashioned
opinions.
Segregation limits peoples understanding.
Sectarianism is their excuse for this.
There needs to be more mixed relations
in Northern Ireland to bring more peace; e.g.: schools, housing communities,
community groups, at the work place.
There should be more Integrated schools
so different religions and ethnic groups can learn together. I've
experienced an Integrated secondary school and I say it is the best
way of moving forward.
Voting should be made compulsory so that
all views can be truly expressed. Bigoted communities must be given
education grants. Integration should be openly encouraged via propaganda
videos.
We do have an integrated school. We have
a Grammar school for Catholics and a Grammar school for Protestants.
A lot of people in Northern Ireland need to wise up. We are all human.
