IPPN

Published: 01 February 2004

Virginia O'Mahony, President of IPPN, will launch a hard hitting attack on the Minister for Education Mr. Noel Dempsey at IPPN's annual conference for his ongoing failure to recognise the vast reservoir of leadership experience and vision available from the Principals of Irish Primary Schools.

On the very night when Minister Dempsey launches his own "Vision" road-show, the President accuses the minister of taking Principals for granted. "Enlightened Principals would never treat their staffs as we have been treated".

The President will cite the launch of Mr. Dempsey's 'vision' document in Galway on Feb 5th, in direct opposition to the opening of the IPPN annual conference, as indicative of the Minister's dismissive and disrespectful attitude towards Primary School leaders, where lip-service only is paid to the process of inclusive consultation.

The National Director, Mr. Sean Cottrell, will highlight the Minister's attitude as comparable to assembling a world-class symphony orchestra and neglecting to engage a conductor. He will highlight the side lining of Parents and Principals in relation to current educational issues such as Parent teacher meetings, the Standardised School Year and the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill. The Minister has succeeded in his short term of office in seriously eroding the good will and professional generosity of the vast majority of the teaching profession by failing to listen to the grass roots of the profession. In the world of business, damage to goodwill of staff by failing to consult with and listen to their own leaders would not be tolerated for long.

Larry Fleming and John Curran, PRO, IPPN.