E-Scéal 26: IPPN Press Release - UCD Professor Launches Strong Attack on the Privatisation of Education in Ireland
- Published: 10 February 2004
Dr. Kathleen Lynch, UCD, in her address to the IPPN annual conference at City West Hotel on Saturday, 7th February poses the simple question: "... Is Primary Education TRULY free and EQUALLY available to all?"
Even more significantly, she questions whether primary education is equally beneficial to all children at primary level. She asks who is ensuring that equality is promoted and that the right to benefit from education is secure. "Who cares if it is not? Where is the evidence so we can judge?" Dr. Lynch is clearly bringing the issue of assessment in primary school to the forefront for the largest ever gathering of principals in Ireland.
Dr. Lynch will argue that in the interests of social justice, the right to education must be protected and that only the state has the power to do this... leaving things to the vagaries of market forces will not work.
Dr. Lynch will also bemoan the total absence of any discussion on the fact that education in Ireland is now being treated as a business rather than as a public service to be supported and protected. This trend has accelerated in recent years despite the devolving of governance responsibilities to schools. Dr. Lynch calls for the issues of privatisation and the market model in education to be publicly debated in Ireland given that there is evidence to suggest that market driven education further disadvantages the already disadvantaged.
Larry Fleming and John Curran, PRO, IPPN.
E-Scéal 25: IPPN Press Release - Dempsey Ignores School Principals
- 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.
E-scéal 24: Resourcing of Special Educational Needs
- Published: 20 November 2003
The planned introduction by the DES to implement a 'weighted system' of allocating resources for special education needs, will if implemented, bring about major changes to most schools. While a formula-based system of allocating extra teaching capacity and special assistance for children with SEN, might be welcomed at one level, the benefits of reduced negotiation and administration time could well be offset by other newer problems. Weighted allocation could lead to imbalanced levels of resources between two schools with similar numbers of children but with considerably different SEN levels.
The IPPN Executive has sought an opportunity to meet with DES Officials to present constructive solutions to this problem which will be based on the experience and knowledge of those who are at the front line. An opportunity to present our views will arise in mid-February. Consequently, IPPN is consulting with principals and deputies nationally. We need to devise an innovative and workable plan for consideration by the DES. If you and your staff have views on what might be the best system to allocate resources for SEN to schools, please forward them to office@ippn.ie.
As indicated in Circular 24/03 future SEN resource allocation will not be based on rigid one to one models. Please take this opportunity to consult with your teachers to devise an allocation system which will be equitable and fair to all children, class teachers, support teachers and principals alike. The failure of the DES in the past to consult with principals in the formulation of SEN policy has led to confusing, time-consuming and rigid procedures which are out of touch with the reality of schools. It is high time that we have a workable system in place that allows us put our energies in to teaching and learning rather than unanswered phone calls and tiresome bureaucracy!
Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell
Director
E-scéal 23: Boards of Management - A Framework For Good Practice
- Published: 15 November 2003
Our office has received a number of requests for a digital version of "BOARDS OF MANAGEMENT - A FRAMEWORK FOR GOOD PRACTICE". I understand that some principals and chairpersons intend to use this document as an agenda item with their new BoM. Please note that in Section 18 there is a reference to the BoM as a "body corporate". This term has been the subject of a number of queries in the last few days. It means that while the eight members of the BoM are appointed / elected from 4 different constituencies, once they are on the BoM, they no longer have a "representative function" and instead must manage the school as a singular unit.
In other words, once the staff representative or the parent representatives are elected to the BoM, they are now part of a "corporate body", not simply to "represent the views" of the constituency from which they were elected. This is an important point which is frequently misunderstood by members of a BoM. Members of staff and parents who wish to have their views or requests brought to the BoM should do so using proper procedures.
I hope this is of benefit.
Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell
Director
To view or download the document:
"BOARDS OF MANAGEMENT - A FRAMEWORK FOR GOOD PRACTICE"
...download the attachment below.
Related documents
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E-Scéal 22: Unsolicited Calls
- Published: 05 November 2003
In the last few days two Principals have notified IPPN about telephone calls to their schools which were a cause of concern. A school in the midlands was telephoned by someone claiming to be a psychologist making specific enquiries about a child with special needs. It subsequently emerged that the family was unaware of the existence of and had no prior contact with this 'psychologist'. In the second scenario a caller was looking for contact details for members of staff whilst making reference to contracts of employment, pension rights etc. It turned out this caller was actually trying to canvass ancillary staff for PRSAs!
In light of both of these experiences IPPN recommends that unsolicited calls to a school seeking to discuss or enquire about members of staff, pupils and their families should not be entertained. The Data Protection Act requires that, information re a person's contact details, nature of work, personal circumstances, level of educational achievement etc. should not be divulged without explicit consent from the person in question and only to people who have properly identified themselves as having the right to collect such data.
Anyone seeking such information should submit their requests in writing or make an appointment and call to the school in person. In the busy life of a school it may be tempting and indeed quite convenient to deal with such requests for information over the telephone. However, because it is impossible to verify the bona fides of a telephone caller, it may be wise to refuse all such requests.
Is mise le meas,
Seán Cottrell
Director
