Non

Catholic Schools

I should like to to answer the charges made by C. H.' Sheill (August 31) about non-Catholic schools. Although educated mainly at Catholic schools, my happiest years were spent in non-Catholic schools (and my brothers and sisters feel the same).

In fact my memories of Catholic establishments were so miserable that I sent my daughters to non-Catholic schools from nursery level onwards.

At no time has there been any difference made between them and other children. In junior school they attended morning Mass on Holy Days with no objections.

Now at grammar school, my elder daughter has several other Catholics in her class. They all attend Assembly and Scripture classes and as far as I can tell they are allowed to express their views with a full hearing from the staff.

In fact, the happy and Christian atmosphere of their schools has contrasted strongly with the bigotry and lack of honesty fond in Catholic schools and which I. know from experience still exists in many. In junior school they were well catered for in out of school Catholic instruction but the out-of-school instruction classes provided for pupils at nonCatholic secondary schools is often very poor indeed. Their intelligence is insulted by constant repetition of simple Catechism classes or they cover the scriptures which arc adequately dealt with from the pulpit.

There should he less emphasis on the answers of the past and more discussion on the I problems of today. In fact these pupils have as much right to decent Catholic instruction as those who choose to go to Catholic schools.

Joanna Sweeney 94 Silhill Hall Road.

Solihull, Warwickshire