MAY 2022
A TIME TO TALK… AND A TIME TO ACT PCI talks education
A CLASS ACT Church and school partnership in Ballymena
BEYOND THE STEREOTYPE Educational underachievement in controlled schools
CONTENTS | MAY 2022
FEATURES 11 Beyond the stereotype
Educational underachievement in the Controlled sector
12 All change for General Assembly 2022 Preview of new Assembly format
14 A class act
A story of church and school partnership in Ballymena
18 What now for young adults? Encouraging young people in their faith
20 A time to talk…and a time to act PCI talks education
31 Meanwhile in the Republic Education issues in the South of Ireland
A class act p14
32 Living emergency
Ruth Sanderson contemplates the rising cost of living
36 In the balance
Rediscovering a more regular pattern to church activities
38 Renewed minds
New Horizon is back for 2022
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REGULARS 4 6 8 9 13 17 23 35 40 42 45 46 47
Living emergency p32
Letters News In this month My story Life lessons As I see it Mission Connect Norman Hamilton Reviews Life in PCI David Clarke Crossword Ruth Sanderson
In the balance p36
CONTRIBUTORS Ruth Sanderson lives in Scotland with her husband Harry and daughter Tessa. She is a freelance radio/ television presenter and producer.
Dr Andy Brown is a principal lecturer in Education and convener of PCI’s State Education committee.
Ruth Garvey-Williams is a journalist, author and researcher who has served in Christian ministry for over 30 years. She is the VOX magazine editor.
Rev David Thompson is Secretary of the Council of Congregational Life and Witness.
Cover illustration: Lauren Martin May 2022 No. 838 Published by: The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, Assembly Buildings, Belfast BT1 6DW. T: +44 (0)28 9032 2284 E: herald@presbyterianireland.org W: www.presbyterianireland.org
Editor: Sarah Harding
The views expressed in the features, news reports, letters and book reviews of this magazine are not necessarily those of the editor. Editorial comment and signed Subscriptions and Advertising: articles do not necessarily contain the official views of the Church, which can only be laid down only by the General Assembly. Acceptance of advertisements Elaine Huddleston; does not imply endorsement of the goods or services. Advertising will not be Suzanne Hamilton included if the product or service is deemed to be in conflict with the Church’s Design and Layout: official views, or if it is inappropriate for a church magazine. It is not Herald policy Edward Connolly to include any editorial content along with adverts. The editor reserves the right Printing: to decline any advertisement or letter without assigning any reason. Letters may W & G Baird Ltd be edited for publication. No correspondence can be entered into regarding nonpublication of advertisements or letters.
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A time to talk… & a time to act Andy Brown reports on the ‘PCI Talks Education’ conference.
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n a windswept Saturday morning at the end of January, 120 delegates and guests braved the weather and the opening up of Covid restrictions to attend ‘PCI Talks Education: A vision for the future in Northern Ireland’. The conference was attended by Presbyterians with an interest and experience in education, ranging from those beginning their teaching career to those who have retired; from teachers to principals to governors to those working in strategic, administrative and policy shaping roles within education. Also present were PCI ministers, along with partners and stakeholders from the teaching colleges, unions, sectoral support bodies and the world of politics.
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It is right for Presbyterians to consider our role in education, thinking about what we do, why we do it and how we do it – and perhaps how we do it better. This desire to constantly re-evaluate, along with the current Independent Review of Education, makes now a perfect time to do this. We as a Church need to reaffirm our place within the educational system – supporting and participating in education has been part of the DNA of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
…what schools need is tangible and unconditional support from churches.
for over a century. Our Church’s history in education is undeniable and enviable, having formed schools in our quest for social justice and a desire to make education accessible. Then as now, it is also our desire for children and young people to flourish, reaching their full potential in a nurturing and holistic way. The conference was opened by the Education Minister, Michelle McIlveen MLA. Commending the role of PCI and the impact our work has on the world of education, she reminded attendees that, “The education of our children and young people goes far beyond the Department of Education, or even schools and colleges. It requires the dedication of teachers, governors, parents and many more. The support of local churches, such
as yours, is also key in placing schools at the heart of their communities.” The keynote address was delivered via a pre-recorded video by Dr Irvin Scott, director of the Leadership Institute for Faith in Education at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Dr Scott spoke of how, in a context very different from ours, the potential for tapping into the skills, resources and willingness of faith communities was having a tremendous effect on the lives of schools and communities in the United States. Reminding delegates that, in every community, there are the two constants of the local school and the local church, he cited how real partnership makes a real difference. Outlining his research, those attending were very much taken by his three-tiered model of engagement, in which churches target the specific and immediate needs of individual schools; form lasting, practical and supportive partnerships with schools; and work at the macro level to reduce systemic inequities. He told delegates that the key to success in reducing inequity, supporting need and raising standards is the formation of partnerships and the idea of giving freely, expecting nothing in return. This theme became an important focus and outcome of the day, and in a panel discussion with Dr Barbara McDade (Stranmillis University College), Rev Robert Herron (Education
…it is an under-funded, under-resourced, resultsdriven system beset by duplication and competition. Authority board member), Mark Beattie (primary school principal) and Leanne Dunlop (Scripture Union Northern Ireland) there was a clear consensus that what schools need is tangible and unconditional support from churches, beginning with real relationships through which specific needs are ascertained and responded to in appropriate ways.
Reflections and responses In group discussion with the delegates, responses were wide-ranging, yet affirmed the importance of our work and the investment made over generations to individual schools and the system as a whole. The pursuit of social justice was paramount in what we do, as was the desire for children and young people to achieve their full potential. Delegates believed that our system has many positives in that it is open to all; facilitates parental choice; is closely linked to the local community; and supported by skilled, committed and dedicated educationalists, voluntary governors, parents and local churches. There was a clear acknowledgement, however, that it is an under-funded, underresourced, results-driven system
beset by duplication and competition, in which a disproportionate focus on academic achievement has led to continued educational underachievement in areas of socio-economic disadvantage. There was a sense that our work could benefit from more time and training given to ministers and governors, with education having a higher profile at presbytery and congregational levels. The relentless pressure on school leaders was a recurring theme, with clear calls for local churches to be a support in this area, through sustained partnership and the building of tangible relationships. Whilst schools greatly appreciate our work at the strategic level, whether at the top of the system or on an individual board of governors, and our input with assemblies and RE, there are huge practical needs in schools which can only be dealt with by rolling up our sleeves. Delegates agreed that our values are intrinsic to a wholesome education system, but that these same values can be claimed by others. Where we differ is in the consistency and nonconfrontational way in which we live these out, but there was a need to ensure that we articulate these clearly to a secular society in a language that it understands. Acknowledging the changing face and attitudes of that society, along with its increasing diversity, there was an understanding that how we deliver our messages has to be done in a contemporary, relevant manner which is cognisant, respectful and reflective of the different life experiences of children and young people. There was much debate over the purpose of education in Northern Ireland and what is valued within our system. Real concerns were expressed over the pathways that children have to take and how this affects their sense of worth and esteem along with the future direction of their lives. There was a clear call for flexible assessment, which recognises the range of abilities and skills, and which celebrates these. The current, high-stakes
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system appears blunt and flawed and, whilst it suits some, it certainly does not suit all, leading to inequities and disparities which are hard to justify. Delegates concluded their discussions with a clarion call for a system which is more equal, meeting the needs of all abilities, aptitudes, social classes and backgrounds, and more equitable, recognising, funding and resourcing fitfor-purpose schools on a par with each other.
Independent Review of Education Our deliberations at the end of January have informed an initial response to the Independent Review of Education, which is currently considering every aspect of the school system in Northern Ireland, including governance arrangements and sectoral organisation. Specifically, it has been asked to consider what a ‘single education system’ might look like in this jurisdiction. A key part of PCI’s response focuses on the importance of ethos. Drawing on an article from Dr Olywn Mark, lecturer of Practical Theology at Union Theological College, we have reminded the review panel that there is no such thing as ‘morally neutral’ education. Nondenominational Christian values and principles continue to have a significant role in shaping and grounding the education system here. Just as there is an increasing focus within our schools on mental and physical health, so too it is important that the spiritual wellbeing of children and young people is not neglected within the school environment. There should be room for each of these within the parameters of a holistic education system. As for a ‘single education system’, PCI has reminded the panel that across these islands, from Ireland to England, from Scotland to Wales, there is no single education delivery mechanism but rather a multiplicity of arrangements. One of the benefits of our current ‘dispersed’ system is that it provides for many different people from a variety of walks of life, engaging with them and supporting them in school communities. Significantly the current arrangements in Northern Ireland facilitate and provide for parental choice. Should the opportunity for parents to choose
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…there are huge practical needs in schools which can only be dealt with by rolling up our sleeves. the ethos within which they wish their children to be educated be removed, there is a risk that new, informal sectors might be formed in response. PCI’s submission to the panel concludes like this: “There is a wellknown saying, often associated with African cultures, that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Never is this more true than in the context of educating our children and young people, enabling them to reach their full potential, and preparing them to be responsible and conscientious citizens. PCI remains ready to play its part in supporting schools, educators and pupils for years to come, just as it has until now.”
What happens next? In case there is any doubt, please do not assume that PCI is happy to only ‘talk’ about education and leave it there. The work of PCI at a denominational, presbytery and congregational level continues to be extremely important. We believe that the values and Christian ethos that PCI, and the other Churches, cherish and promote in education are healthy and positive for children and young people. At the same time, our partnerships with local schools in our communities are an act of service for the common good. The conference was an important opportunity to reflect on how, in a changing world, we can continue to be effective in our mission to serve our society, our communities, our families,
our children and young people, through constructive leadership and partnership in education. In the context of this changing educational landscape, it was a vital moment for us to pause and consider what that involvement might look like for the next 100 years. In the weeks following the event there have already been examples of partnerships being formed or galvanised, conversations taking place and needs being addressed. And it is our hope and prayer that God will continue to bless the work being done across this island within the field of education, that he will encourage and strengthen us as we continue to give in this sphere, and that society will see anew the importance of our unconditional service. In Northern Ireland, as we move forward into the second century of our involvement, we pray that it will be one in which we continue to freely and positively impact the lives of pupils, school staff, parents, communities and society, and that they will see in us partners in the vital work of nurturing and realising the full potential of every child and young person. Dr Andy Brown is a principal lecturer in Education and convener of PCI’s State Education committee.
MAY 2022
Mission Connect
Mission to Ukraine
Mission news from workers around Ireland and the world.
Nothing is outside God’s control Paula Burrows Equipped for every good work Dr Zoltán Kustár Mission to Ukraine James Cochrane Caring through cleaning Grace Harding
Every aspect of our Church’s mission depends to some extent on United Appeal. Hundreds of projects and programmes at home and overseas are helping to advance God’s kingdom, showing God’s love in action to hundreds of thousands of people.
Investing in students Rev Dave Gray
Including May prayer diary
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Living emergency
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Ruth Sanderson considers the rising cost of living and how we should respond.
s temperatures rise and the first heat of spring starts to warm us, a wave of relief passes over. Not only has the winter passed, but we can turn the radiators off without having to put a coat on in the house. My family and I moved to the north east of Scotland a couple of years ago, so turning off the heat before its time feels pretty drastic! However, we recently received the same letter as other households in Scotland, England and Wales saying that our heating and electricity bills were set to rise by 54%. The start of April saw a rise in the energy price cap allowed to suppliers – i.e. the maximum companies can charge for gas and electricty. However, the cap does not feature in Northern Ireland – it has a separate energy market with its own system of price regulation. Likewise the government in the Republic of Ireland has said it is not in a position to place a cap on rising energy prices as it imports so much of it from other countries. Those of us living in Great Britain get rising wholesale costs passed on to us in two huge lumps (April and October) whereas in Ireland and Northern Ireland, fluctuating costs can be passed on bit by bit throughout the year, making things even more unpredictable. Regardless of where you live, it means everyone gets the pain of rising prices,
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albeit at slightly staggered times. It’s estimated that the average home will face paying an extra £700 per year, with that set to rise as we come into the winter. The reason for this stratospheric rise has been driven largely by a surge in natural gas prices due to increased demand for gas from China and Asia, and a cold winter in Europe in 2020/21. This meant that stored gas supplies were used, pushing prices up. Ironically, it became a perfect storm when a lack of wind over the summer then hit renewable sources of energy, increasing demand for gas. However, if this wasn’t enough, prices have risen even higher following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with oil prices climbing to record highs. It’s feared that the energy price cap could soar again in October as a result of the war, as natural resources climb in value. It isn’t just heat. With the rising cost of oil comes the pain of filling up a tank of petrol for much more than we are accustomed to. A cut in VAT during the pandemic has been readjusted to its 20%
We are victims of a global economy and events which happen thousands of miles away.
pre-pandemic level, which means almost everything will cost a little bit more (or a lot more, depending on what you’re buying). Brexit has caused import and export costs to rise, meaning food prices have gone up. The supply chain costs more to run – don’t forget that most of what we consume has to be driven in lorries to us, which incur raised petrol charges, which in turn we pay for in the price of our food and goods. We are victims of a global economy and events which happen thousands of miles away. We are basically sitting ducks, paying for cold winters and poor harvests, wars and expansionism. These factors end up in our colder homes and smaller shopping baskets. Has anyone else been having the ‘where can we cut back?’ conversation at home recently? We have. It’s my least favourite topic of discussion, albeit a necessary one. These conversations change with the stage of life you are at, the job you have, the house you live in, the amount of children who live with you. Yet I can’t help but feel that everyone has been talking about the same thing lately. These discussions have morphed from “Do we need to go on holiday this year?” to “How often do we really need to drive the car?” This time last year, even with lockdown, the measures we were considering (Could we put the heating
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on less often? Can we wear extra layers? Could we cut back on more expensive food?) seemed far less punitive, yet extreme measures have become the norm. I am acutely aware that we, up to this point, have been comfortable as a family; if not comfortable, then managing. We are both in work, we have a home, we run a car. We can – up to this point – afford to pay the bills. However, for the first time, the future looks uncertain. Yet if we are now talking about whether or not we can make ends meet each month, then I can’t imagine the desperation which millions of households now face. I listen religiously to Radio 4, and each day I’ve been making a special point of paying particular attention to the programme You and Yours. Recently it has become a real barometer of the reality of life in this current cost of living crisis. Each day, voice after voice talks about ‘tips’ for survival… Wearing a sleeping bag if you’re working from home. Sitting in a shopping centre to warm up during the day. Sharing a bed with the kids so everyone can be warm enough at night. Skipping meals so that your children can eat. Selling the car and only going where you can walk to. These voices have become so normalised, so mundane, that all these suggestions are seen as reasonable steps to being able to continue with life.
When debt increases and hardship hits, so does anxiety and despair. It is a mental crisis as well as an economic one. I have also heard stories of schools not being able to continue to run extra activities for children so they can heat classrooms, as many of these children come from freezing homes. Or stories of foodbanks saying that people don’t want to take potatoes because the cost of energy to cook them costs too much. (As an aside, in last week’s Financial Times I read an article with a sanctioned oligarch living in London who was complaining that he might have to give up his personal chauffeur… what an unbalanced society we live in!). What’s happening now is described as ‘eating or heating’, but in reality it’s ‘freezing or starving’. However, the impact of this crisis is not just about what we put on the table or in our oil tanks. When debt increases and hardship hits, so does anxiety and despair. It is a mental crisis as well as an economic one. Many feel as though they are failing themselves and their family. Deprivation is dreadful and goes hand in hand with a sense of personal failure.
It erodes dignity and crushes the spirit. As Christians we should care deeply about this crisis. But how do we apply the principles of our faith to tackling these issues? We can’t just sit back and pray for the second coming to hurry up in order to sort this mess out. God does not withdraw from our chaotic, messy, painful world. He breaks into it and uses us as his instruments of change. Jesus didn’t just save the lost, he fed the hungry. The Presbyterian Church already does fantastic work in trying to help those who are really struggling. Churches, aid agencies and Christian organisations dealing with poverty and debt do unspeakably valuable work in times like this, offering practical help and support. The organisation Christians Against Poverty (CAP) has advocated for tens of thousands of people struggling with debt and the cost of living, and they are only seeing the number of people contacting them increase. CAP says, “We are already seeing a significant increase in demand for our free debt help in many parts of the UK and we are concerned many more people will need support as the cost of energy spirals out of control. CAP has seen requests for emergency fuel vouchers double in the first two months of this year compared to the first two months of 2021 – highlighting the impact that the energy crisis is already having. CAP
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has also delivered over £23,000 worth of crisis support in the first two months of 2022 which includes emergency fuel vouchers, food shops and essential items.” Meanwhile, the Trussell Trust that runs over 1,200 foodbanks throughout the UK has seen its usage dramatically increase during the pandemic and further still as the cost of living crisis begins to bite. The Trust says there has not been enough government help for those living on benefits and those with severely limited income, as benefits have not risen with the cost of inflation. In fact, there have been seven benefit freezes in the past decade. “People are already making impossible decisions between heating and eating, and we know people are skipping meals, unable to afford to run cookers and fridges and taking on debt to buy the essentials. This is not right. By failing to make benefits payments realistic for the times we face, the government is risking turning the cost of living crisis into an emergency.” However, organisations like CAP, the Trussell Trust and others like them can’t always plug the gap. Surely it shouldn’t always be left to be those with a convicted spirit to be the ones holding the can or fighting for change? Don’t structural issues about the fairness of domestic and global politics come into it too? Otherwise, we will only
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We need to be engaged, not just in how our Church can help…but in the bigger political landscapes which allow people to fall into poverty…in the first place. be firefighting a larger, uncontrollable inferno. We need to be engaged, not just in how our Church can help those who are really struggling, but in the bigger political landscapes which allow people to fall into poverty and despair in the first place. We can lobby our MPs, pray for international situations, think about who to vote for, not just along party lines, but about their policies on taxation, aid, charity. God asks us to be involved in all aspects of humankind. The one thing we mustn’t do is shrug our shoulders and think the issues are too ‘big’ for us to impact upon. Plenty of people in the world already do that, yet it’s exactly what we as Christians must never do.
Signposts to help If you are affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, you can seek help through contacting the following organisations: Christians Against Poverty (CAP) 0800 328 0006 www.capuk.org Advice NI 0800 915 4604 www.adviceni.net Presbyterian Children’s Society +44 (0)28 9032 3737 www.presbyterianchildrenssociety.org
Money Advice and Budgeting Service (RoI) 0818 07 2000 www.mabs.ie
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TALKING POINTS
Words matter Norman Hamilton discusses the proposed new legislation on hate speech.
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cripture is very clear on many things – and the Prosecution Service would also have to make such assessments importance of the words we use is one of them. Just – even though, like police officers, they are not qualified either read Proverbs 16 and 18. Then read the book of James, as clinical psychologists or behavioural scientists. and follow this up with Jesus’ teaching in Matthew To be absolutely clear, I am most certainly not suggesting 5. Our language, and the tone of it, reveals much about our that victims of despicable hatred should have to accept that the character and our relationship with Christ, for after all “the perpetrators of their distress go unpunished. As a Christian mouth speaks what the heart is full of ” (Luke 6:45). pastor, I am deeply disturbed that such hatred grossly demeans Yet ‘hate speech’ is all too common, and arguably becoming the value of human beings created in the image of God, and for an ever greater problem. This seems almost self-evident when whom Christ died. we read so much invective on Twitter, alongside the trolling What I do find very troubling is that police officers will of anyone who dares to question or disagree with what is be required to make judgments on motivation, bias, bigotry, politically correct, or the cancelling of invitations to speakers in prejudice or contempt – with there being no suggestion order to ensure ‘safe spaces’ where contrary views are banned. at present of any objective or transparent criteria for such To say nothing of the sometimes appalling views expressed assessment. Bias, for example, may simply be preferences or a on radio phone-in shows. Opportunities for bitter words strongly held beliefs – and is there anyone on this planet who abound, and many people seem only too willing to take those does not have these? opportunities. Prejudice is certainly an unfair or …the new proposals are unreasonable opinion – but against what The situation is now so bad, that in Northern Ireland, new laws are being criteria will the PSNI decide that what deeply troubling... proposed to both limit what is called ‘hate I say is unfair or unreasonable? Indeed, speech’ and prosecute those who allegedly indulge in it. This is a it may well be that some biblical teaching would fall into this very complex and contentious issue, not least since it also affects category. ‘free speech’, and may well bring significant restrictions on what As for bigotry, it certainly exists. Bitterness and intolerance can be said in public, including gospel proclamation on our are all too common. Listen to some of our politicians or simply streets and in our neighbourhoods. ask J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, about Whilst there is at present no crime of hate speech as such in the abuse she has received for some of her views… Northern Ireland, hate speech ‘incidents’ can be recorded and As currently presented, the new proposals are deeply prosecution follows. troubling, for they take us into the territory of holding and Currently the PSNI officers on the ground are tasked with communicating apparently unacceptable opinions. Free speech following through on incidents of such alleged speech as is under very serious threat. The desire to have police officers reported by victims. The guidelines which they follow, as set out make complex and far-reaching judgments, perhaps even on the by the College of Policing, are: spot, is simply too much to ask, against the wider background • For allegations of hate incidents, police need to apply their of serious drug dealing, organised crime, sexual violence, and judgment in establishing whether there is hostility towards a online crime. protected characteristic group. It is therefore very important that those of us in the Churches • If, having applied their judgment and taking account of the as well as wider society actually address a key question: What full context, no hostility is found, the incident should not be are our police actually for? Part of the answer is that the PSNI recorded as a hate incident. needs to be allowed to put first things first. The policing of • Additionally, policing will need to consider whether the Covid-19 became a reputational quagmire for them. Policing incident in question might be dealt with in a way that is less such new proposed laws could well land intrusive and that does not infringe freedom of expression, them in another one, and surely no for example, signposting to alternative areas of support or Christian would want to see that happen. ways of raising concern. A further guideline states that “particular care is needed when Rev Dr Norman Hamilton the incident complained of takes place as part of debate…” The proposed new legislation expands the policing of Very Rev Dr Norman Hamilton is a former ‘thought’ by adding attitudes of ‘bias, prejudice, bigotry and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in contempt’ to their assessment process. The staff in the Public Ireland.
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