ABSTRACT

Based on the oral history testimonies of Sister-teachers, this study provides an insight into the impact of the Free Education Scheme (1967) on the lives of women religious in Ireland. This major initiative was generated and driven by men; however, it had a direct impact on the professional lives of thousands of women who ran schools. The article outlines the development of Irish convent schools as a form of ‘voluntary secondary schooling’ and the roles performed by women religious (nuns). It then considers the impact of the Free Education Scheme on convent schooling and how Sister teachers and Sister principals responded and adapted to these changes and increased demands. The article draws on oral history accounts, in which women religious articulate their own thoughts on this period of dramatic change in their lives as educators.

摘要

根据姊妹老师的口述历史证词，本研究提供了对免费教育计划（1967年）对爱尔兰宗教女性生活的影响的深刻见解。这项主要的倡议是由人产生和推动的。但是，这直接影响了成千上万妇女上学。文章概述了爱尔兰女修道院学校作为“义务中学制”形式的发展以及女性宗教（修女）所扮演的角色。然后，它考虑了免费教育计划对女修道院学校的影响，以及姐妹教师和姐妹校长如何应对和适应这些变化和增加的需求。这篇文章借鉴了口述历史的记载，在这些记载中，宗教妇女表达了自己对作为教育工作者的生活发生急剧变化的这一时期的想法。