Exploring the Voice of Children in Catholic Education in an Irish Primary School

Catholic education in Ireland finds itself in a contested space at this time. Much of the current research and argument is based on adult and minority group perspectives of Catholic education. This chapter explores how the voice of children can be accessed in an inclusive manner promoting democracy and so add to the discourse on Catholic education. Central to creating inclusive environments is the value that is placed on cultivating an atmosphere where children know that their voices are valued, listened and responded to and can make a difference. Arguing that young people should not be seen merely as objects of research but as active participants therein, it offers a rights-based approach to research with children, based on the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, article 12 and 14 (1989). It explores the Lundy Model of Participation (2007) framework for research with children, ensuring all children's views are valued and respected. The chapter concludes by considering the implications emerging from recent research concerning aspects of the religious identity of a child in a Catholic school in Ireland, which found that children live in blended-belief families and that 68% of children cite their grandparents as the main influence on their religious identity.