Data Bases • Custom Term Papers • Free Term Papers • Free Research Papers • Free Essays • Free Book Reports • Plagiarism? Links • Top 100 Term Paper Sites • Top 25 Essay Sites • Top 50 Essay Sites • Search 97,000 Papers @ DirectEssays.com • Search 101,000 Papers @ ExampleEssays.com • Search 90,000 Papers @ MegaEssays.com Free Essays • Term Paper Sites • Chuck III's Free Essays • Free College Essays • TermPaperSites.com • Free Essays • My Term Papers • Essay World • Planet Papers	Search Lots of Essays Back to Subjects - Miscellaneous A leap of faith A leap of faith Northern Ireland has been rocked by the “The Troubles” since the 1960’s. Ongoing atrocities such as bombings and killings have affected the lives of most Protestant and Catholic families. Now all they pray for and want is peace. They want an end to the violence and a chance to live in peace with those from the “other” community. For some parents in Northern Ireland, education seems to be a hope for a peaceful life. Education is responsible for molding the views of children therefore parents in Northern Ireland have come up with the notion of integrated schools. In these schools students are taught about other cultures, able to interact with people from different cultures, build an understanding of each other, and given the opportunity to discuss what is going on around them Northern Ireland has been in conflict for the past twenty-five years. The bitterness between the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland has resulted in this long conflict which is known as the Irish “Troubles”. The name fits the time, for bombing killing and out right bitterness between the two religious classes is self-evident through out Northern Ireland. The Troubles began in the 1960s as an attempt at peaceful reform from Catholic grievances. It was intended to be a peaceful reformation but Unionist saw it as an attempt to cause chaos in Northern Ireland. They in turn reacted violently. During the following years tensions arose between the Loyalists and Unionists. Protestant and Catholic families who once lived in side by side were forced out of their neighborhoods by sectarian violence. Many homes were burned down in order segregate the once mixed neighborhoods. Most moved to segregated areas, where only Protestants or only Catholics lived. British troops were moved into the scene in order to help stabilize the chaos. They built borders between Catholic and Protestant neighborhoods in order to keep the other out. The Provisional Irish Republican Army soon arose along with other Protestant Paramilitaries. The violence between the two sides has plagued Northern Ireland since. There have been attempts at peace, but they never lasted. In 1994 there was a cease-fire which lasted 18 months. It sprung some hope in the people of Northern Ireland. About 18 months after that another cease-fire came about. The attempts at peace have given some relief to the people of Northern Ireland but despite that, there is still segregation, which leads to bitterness and conflict between the Protestants and Catholics. In helping promote peace certain families in Northern Ireland have opted to send their children to integrated schools. In integrated schools, Catholic and Protestant children are taught side by side unlike the traditional Catholic schools or state-funded Protestant schools. Many feel that if children are taught to interact with those from the other community, as they grow up they will not have hostility or bitterness toward the other community, thus promoting peace. It will not have a large affect since most students are still attending schools that are segregated by religion, but it is a small attempt at peace. "A Leap of Faith" takes us through 12 months in the Cranmore Integrated Primary School. In Belfast Catholic and Protestant parents work side by side in establishing this institution. In the following months they attempt to receive funding for this school. There first step to succeeding in getting g funding is creating a balance between Catholic and Protestant children. They find an old building and begin transforming it into a suitable school. Opening day proves to be a success as the first class walks into the building. The purpose of the integrated school system is to teach Protestant and Catholic children together so that they will not have bitterness towards each other. Through out the majority of the film Cranmore parents talk about the benefits of sending their children to an integrated school. Anne Murray is the principle of Cranmore. Through out the film she emphasizes the importance of an integrated education. She talks about how children’s views are molded during their first years of life and of schooling. Her goal is to produce a successful integrated school, which will succeed in creating an atmosphere which Catholics, and Protestants can interact without bitterness and hostility towards each other. This in turn will teach the children understanding of different cultures and backgrounds. Cranmore Parents such as Rhonda Gonsalves and John Gonsalves chose to send their children to Cranmore for a variety of reasons. They want an end to the bitterness between the Protestants and Catholics. Tracie Dougherty believes the bitterness shouldn’t be learned. They do not want their children to have this hatred towards the other community; they would prefer that they live in peace with the other community. People such as Father Faul and Ken Maginnis oppose integration. Ken believes that it is not going to work. Because only 3% of the child population attend integrated schools he believes that it is not going to help the cause of peace. If anything, the children in these integrated schools are living in a protected environment. Once they step out of this environment and into the real world, it will be a cultural shock for them. They will be viewed as suspicious. They are not going to see the bitterness, and will virtually be attacked by it. In other words, they are not going to be ready to face the reality of the “The Troubles” of Ireland. Through out the film parents argue this idea. In the integrated schools, children discuss what is going on around them. They are able to discuss such happenings like bombings and killings in the classroom. Many seem to have an understanding of the issue, but they see it through different lenses. Through their eyes they know exactly what is going on, but they do not believe that Catholics and Protestants should be fighting against each other in those ways. They believe that they should all get along. Father Faul disagrees with integrated schools, because he feels that children will lose their cultural and religious identity. Things such as Irish history may not be presented in the same way as if it were presented to a child in a Catholic School. Children will not lose their identity argue Cranmore parents. Grainne McGee says that the children will not lost their identity but rather gain a stronger identity through the awareness of different cultures. The opposition stresses the social price those have to pay in order to make a small effort toward peace. The film emphasizes the impact education has on peace amid rivaling communities. These parents been through and have fallen victim to the psychological effects of sectarian violence. They do not want their children to live through the same bitterness and hatred they grew up with. It is a small beginning but a small beginning is better than no beginning. It is successful through the parents. As long as the parents support the school and their ideas, it will strive. It’s a search for peace through education, a factor that the United States had to face as well. It might be a small turnout, but it has proved to be a victory. Towards the end of the Cranmore year, more were applying for the school, or transferring their children out of Protestant or Catholic schools in order to enroll them in Cranmore. Their enrollment has become so high, that they are now attempting to find another building to support the influx of new students. During the times of the “The Troubles” little hope is better than none. With all the sectarian violence enveloping these communities such as Belfast, a little hope can mean a lot. The parents of Cranmore realize this and continue to do everything they can to provide their children as well as their community with this hope. In supporting an integrated school parents have attempt to eliminate the bitterness between the Catholics and Protestants which was kindled in the beginning of the 1960s with the start of “The Troubles.” Bibliography: Word Count: 1379
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