[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 692 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 692

 Honoring the 26th anniversary of Northern Ireland's first integrated 
school and further encouraging continued innovation to achieve a shared 
future in education in Northern Ireland that would deliver much higher 
                          standards of skills.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 27, 2007

  Mrs. McCarthy of New York (for herself, Mr. Walsh of New York, Mr. 
 Crowley, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Payne, Mr. McHugh, Mrs. Maloney of 
     New York, Mr. Engel, and Mr. Higgins) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Honoring the 26th anniversary of Northern Ireland's first integrated 
school and further encouraging continued innovation to achieve a shared 
future in education in Northern Ireland that would deliver much higher 
                          standards of skills.

Whereas since its foundation in 1921, Northern Ireland has had two separate 
        educational systems;
Whereas 2007 marks the 26th anniversary of the opening of Northern Ireland's 
        first integrated school, Lagan College in south Belfast;
Whereas schools in Northern Ireland that have formally become integrated have 
        demonstrated particular and distinctive commitment to a shared future;
Whereas currently, there are 58 integrated schools in Northern Ireland: 39 are 
        primary schools and 19 are colleges for students aged 11 to 18 years;
Whereas 94 percent of Protestant students attend Protestant schools, while 92 
        percent of Catholic students attend Catholic schools;
Whereas currently 4.6 percent of all pupils--approximately 18,000 students--
        attend an integrated school in Northern Ireland;
Whereas the cost of running the current, mostly separate school system in 
        Northern Ireland amounts to as much as 1 billion pounds a year;
Whereas the Good Friday Agreement explicitly promised that the Government of 
        Northern Ireland would ``encourage and facilitate'' the development of 
        integrated schools;
Whereas the Good Friday Agreement stated that ``an essential aspect of the 
        reconciliation process is the promotion of a culture of tolerance at 
        every level of society, including initiatives to facilitate and 
        encourage integrated education'';
Whereas the goal of integration is to encourage children to understand 
        differences so they begin to understand different cultures and overcome 
        negative stereotypes;
Whereas the Taoiseach noted in a March 30, 1999, speech at Hazelwood College in 
        Belfast, ``Integrated education has an important part to play in 
        promoting partnership and mutual understanding.'';
Whereas in a speech in Donegal in 2006, the Secretary of State of Northern 
        Ireland, Peter Hain, said, ``The educational future of Northern Ireland 
        must be shared and focused on what unites, or divided it will be 
        bleak.'';
Whereas on September 19, 2006, Secretary Hain stated, ``We must embrace 
        collaboration and sharing across and between school sectors, allowing 
        children and young people to share experiences and ensuring education 
        spending is going to children in classrooms . . .'';
Whereas Secretary Hain further stated, ``The blunt reality is that it is simply 
        not going to be possible to offer the full range of opportunities in a 
        system of education that does not have sharing at its heart.'';
Whereas young people must be confident of individual traditions, but at the same 
        time, have full respect for other traditions and an ability to make 
        friends and relationships across the community divisions;
Whereas in a recent study from Queen's University in Belfast, research indicates 
        that educating Catholics and Protestants together in school does have an 
        effect on their attitudes later in life;
Whereas people who have attended integrated schools in Northern Ireland have the 
        potential to create a new political common ground; and
Whereas integrated schools dilute sectarianism: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the 26th anniversary of Northern Ireland's first 
        integrated school;
            (2) commends the efforts to work toward a shared future in 
        education in Northern Ireland;
            (3) recognizes that a shared future in education in 
        Northern Ireland will produce a higher quality education which 
        plays a powerful and positive role in creating a more confident 
        society, helping to make it sustainable and vibrant with 
        greater sharing between its communities;
            (4) encourages a shared future in education in Northern 
        Ireland and for Northern Ireland to have the courage to push 
        beyond the boundaries set by the separation of the past and 
        grasp the opportunities to build a new, shared future based on 
        mutual respect and understanding; and
            (5) reiterates its support for the successful May 8, 2007, 
        devolution, which will present an opportunity for Northern 
        Ireland to work toward a shared future in education.
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