1923
In the early days of the state there is very deep suspicion and fear and in
such a climate the Act is greeted with hostility. The act envisages all
primary schools being under the control of the state. In order to achieve
this goal it is recommended that there will be three classes of school:
Controlled, Maintained and Voluntary. This basically means that the more
control the government has over a school the more funding will be
available for that school. While the government will continue to pay
teachers' salaries and meet basic heating cost, the voluntary schools
lose virtually all other funding. As this affects Catholic schools most,
there are claims of discrimination. The government takes the view, however,
that the choice ultimately rests with all schools to either opt out or not.
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