General Development

The teacher’s book and the pupil’s text for On-Line being the sixth module of the Follow Me Programme was published in May 2005. The editor for the programme is Mrs Jacqui Wilkinson.

This religious education programme is produced by a Committee representative of the Methodist and Presbyterian Boards of Education together with The Board of Education of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland. The Chairman and a significant driving force behind the programme who has also contributed spiritual introductions to each unit is the Bishop of Meath Most Rev Dr RCL Clarke.

The Committee is indebted to the generosity of the Catholic Episcopal Commission on Catechetics, under the chairmanship of Bishop Martin Drennan, which has allowed the use of artwork and content from the Alive O series and the publisher Veritas who commissioned additional artwork for On-Line.

Original stories and poetry for On-Line have been written by Patricia England and Christine Ferguson while Mrs Wilkinson has also contributed stories as well as creating teaching units. The result is a colourful and relevant production which includes units about the Bible Society and the Church Mission Society.

In-service for teachers of 4th class or multi-grade classes including 4th who will use On-Line was provided in two venues in the Republic and there has been a significant welcome for this module of the programme. A copy of the teacher’s book was provided, by the Church Education Society, as a gift to each school where teachers attended training. Schools who did not attend training will receive a gift copy of the teacher's book if they order a number of pupil’s texts for On-Line.

It is not planned to publish anything in 2006 as initial meetings with teachers of senior classes have already indicated that a somewhat different approach in content and teaching methodologies will be required for 5th and 6th classes (P7&P8). It is planned to complete publishing the programme in 2007 and 2008. This will provide a natural point to consider the revision of the infant modules so that teachers may continue to have a fresh and exciting resource for religious education.