The Education Minister says she’s disappointed that a school on the southside called off a workshop on homophobic bullying.
Colaiste Eoin in Stillorgan stopped the talk by ShoutOut at the last minute yesterday because “both sides had to be represented”.
Jan O’Sullivan says there are no sides when it comes to homophobic bullying.
Meanwhile Colaiste Eoin says that the anti homophobic bullying talk was postponed and not cancelled.
In a statement the school says that a number of parents were concerned about the workshop and it then sought advice from catholic management representative bodies.
The school says that it is proposed to invite Shout Out to make their presentation at a future date this year.
STATEMENT FROM COLAISTE EOIN
Shout Out have in recent years made workshop presentations to Transition Year students in Colaiste Eoin and no issues or objections have arisen from such.
On this particular occasion however the Board of Management have received written communications from a number of parents outlining their concerns regarding the workshop.
In this context it was incumbent on the Board to address all issues and to seek the advice available from Catholic management representative bodies available to secondary schools.
It was at all times made clear to Shout Out that the scheduled workshop was not being cancelled and it is incorrect on their part to suggest otherwise.
It is proposed to invite Shout Out to make their presentation at a future date in the course of the current academic year.
Colaiste Eoin is a Catholic school and as such endeavours to promote a caring, tolerant and inclusive school community.
