Bishop backs UK charity move to NI; ‘Nearer my God. . . ‘ Irish Times leading article on The Titanic; C of I ethos at King’s Hospital; No major difference in quality between large and small schools; Teachers call for reduced Church control of schools; Report: 700,000 living in poverty in Ireland
Bishop backs UK charity move to NI
Londonderry Sentinel – Bishop of Derry Ken Good has backed UK community transformation charity ‘Redeeming Our Communities’ (ROC) to create partnerships, improve community cohesion and reduce crime and disorder in Northern Ireland.
He gave his support in the run up to the charity’s Northern Ireland launch event in the Waterfront on May 9 which will feature a performance from County Tyrone X Factor finalist Janet Devlin.
The Right Rev Ken Good, Bishop of Derry and Raphoe said: “Getting influential groups to engage creatively together is a key factor in transforming communities.
“From what I have seen elsewhere, ROC has the experience and the expertise to develop partnerships in Northern Ireland which will prove dynamic and effective in community transformation. I am excited by the possibilities and am pleased to offer my support.”
ROC was set up in 2004 and has seen crime and anti-social behaviour fall and fresh hope brought to some of the most deprived and challenging areas of the UK, urban and rural alike.
http://www.londonderrysentinel.co.uk/news/local/bishop-backs-uk-charity-move-to-ni-1-3687487
‘Nearer my God. . . ‘
Irish Times leading article on The Titanic – The sad but lingering appeal of that night, a hundred years ago next Saturday, is all bound up with the story of the mighty engineering feat that was the Titanic, and the scale of the disaster, but also, and even more so, with the countless stories of Strauses and Deans. Of the band that went on playing to the end, all of whose members would perish. Individual stories of courage and of chance, of class, of arrogance, complacency and greed, of generosity. Stories woven into a tapestry that vividly represents not just a great ship, but a hidebound, conservative society steaming towards its own disaster.
The commemorations that are marking the sinking, not least Belfast’s multiple events and its fine €120 million Titanic Belfast towering visitor’s centre, have combined the idea of remembering but with a curiously celebratory and uplifting quality that sits a little uneasily with the tragedy. But this is marketing, the selling of Belfast as a tourist destination – accentuate the positive, the heroism, the engineering achievement, the spirit …
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/opinion/2012/0407/1224314498039.html
C of I ethos at King’s Hospital
Irish Times – ‘Boarding school can be tough’ – Although the Church of Ireland ethos is central to King’s Hospital, not all of its students are members of that church – and the co-education factor is the key attraction for some of its students
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/0410/1224314565054.html
No major difference in quality between large and small schools
TheJournal.ie – English lessons were rated as marginally better in bigger schools, according to a new assessment from the Republic’s Department of Education.
http://www.thejournal.ie/no-major-difference-in-quality-between-large-and-small-schools-411792-Apr2012/
Teachers call for reduced Church control of schools
TheJournal.ie – Primary school teachers will also vote on a motion to maintain their pay levels as set out under the Croke Park deal.
http://www.thejournal.ie/teachers-call-for-less-church-control-of-schools-411646-Apr2012/
Report: 700,000 living in poverty in Ireland
TheJournal.ie – A new report from Social Justice Ireland says that of those living in poverty in Ireland, 200,000 are children. The organisation says that the social welfare system is not fit for purpose and should be replaced.
http://www.thejournal.ie/report-700000-living-in-poverty-in-ireland-412250-Apr2012/