Protestant primary schools in rural Laois amlgamate with unexpected benefits for pupils and teachers.
Times change and the Protestant churches recognise that educational is changing too.
Faced with the issue of declining numbers in small rural schools, they have undertaken a programme to create new schools or amalgamate smaller ones. The result is an updated national school network with better facilities.
In County Laois, children who previously were pupils in Ballyroan National School now travel by bus to their new school in Abbeyleix.
Helen Barrett who teaches the junior pupils also moved from Ballyroan. She has seen children improve because of the extra time she can now devote to them. Bigger classrooms also facilitate teaching of a wider variety of subjects,
Handwork, drill, and other activities.
From 'Signal : Protestant Primary Education' broadcast on 29 May 1966. The reporter is Rev GW Ferguson.
