IPPN

THEY CAME, THEY SAW, THEY PROTESTED

Published: 09 December 2008

Tue, Dec 09, 2008

Six marchers tell Mary Minihanwhy they took to the streets

DAD John Hutchinson, Carlow "I'm a construction worker, so I understand that there's a downturn. I've worked four or five weeks since August. I'll muddle on, but where are these cuts going to stop? I've no problem with my taxes going to kids going through school. I'd like my son, Ewan, to use the brains he's got and go on to college if he wants, not be stuck like me humping bricks for a living.

In the next couple of years the damage will be done for the young. I can look for work, but if anything happens to their education at this time in their life, it's going to have a knock-on effect. I don't see any reason why youngsters should be punished.

You're talking about a family having to fork out maybe €500 per child for books now. Neighbours of mine have just paid €1,000 for textbooks for two kids. The Minister's not deciding these things on his own. It's a government decision. They're forgetting youngsters are our future. The one thing you shouldn't be touching is the kids and the elderly.

The banks and everybody else are getting bailed out. The people they are hitting are the ones who can't do anything about it."

MUM Ellen Byrne, Portlaoise "The children were adamant about coming and I'm here because of them. They're so passionate. John is eight and George is seven. Esther is just 17 months. They're concerned about cutbacks. They were awake all night waiting to come here. We don't come up to Dublin, I'm not even sure how to get back to the bus.

John asked could he make a speech because children should be allowed to have their say. He listens to Radio 1 and he decided that if they are going after third level they'll come after us. The cutbacks are going to affect us in every way. It'll affect them in school. John's school is going to lose three teachers, I think. I didn't hear anything yet about George's school.

How are we going to get out of the economic downturn? It's going to be a struggle, but children are going to pull us through. When I think about the Minister, I'm a bit numbed. It's beyond thought, really. I don't know how we got here. The schools are going to be losing a lot of special needs assistance. They are being cut back in every way. If this protest doesn't work I don't know what we'll have to do."

PRINCIPAL Jim Higgins, Ardkeeran NS, Riverstown, Co Sligo "The Minister has to listen to us. He has to deal with the substitution issue and class sizes. It's immoral, unjust and indefensible in a democracy. I'm delighted at the turn-out. People are determined to have a bit of fun, even if the subject matter they are dealing with is very, very serious.

I'm very optimistic that something has to happen. The Minister just has to take account of it. He can't be the first Minister in the history of the State to worsen the pupil-teacher ratios. The Government can't ignore this. We appointed a rural co-ordinator under a disadvantage scheme. She was appointed on September 1st last year, a marvellous teacher serving four schools. One year we have her and now she is gone.

Ours is a four-teacher rural school with 85 pupils. I've 12 kids in sixth class who will be going to secondary school. I must get in at least nine next September or I'll lose a teacher. We also had the book rental scheme. No family paid more than €70 a year. They've taken away that grant. It'll be €200-€250 now per child per year. If a teacher is absent we can't put in a sub."

PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHER Christine Smyth, St Anne's Primary School, Fettercairn, Tallaght "This is my first year teaching. I'm 23 and I'm in a vulnerable position, but I'm not really here for myself. My main concern today is not for myself but for the children. I'm teaching a class with 22 pupils, and these cuts will greatly disadvantage not only my class but my school in general.

Children don't have a voice, so we are here to speak for them today. Why should they have to pay for the excesses of generations past? There's a strong sense of unity and a great sense of pride here today. It's fantastic to be here and be part of it. I think that with the numbers supporting us, we can really make a difference. I certainly hope so.

It's good to see so many parents and families out. That's great to see. Children fundamentally understand their right to education. We've discussed job losses. I know that there are staff cuts in general across the board, in special needs and in language support. I believe the Minister has a very hard job to do. I won't pretend I could do it. But I don't think things are being dealt with in the right way."

SECONDARY SCHOOL TEACHER Susie Hall, Malahide Community School (former ASTI president) "At second level there will be chaos if there is not adequate substitution. This was a very easy option for the Government to hit the weakest. Unlike the medical cards issue, when they realised they had hit voters, they know children don't vote.

Why the weakest and most vulnerable in our community should be asked to pay for the gross mismanagement of the economy during the Celtic Tiger is just something I don't understand. We're making clear that this is not the end. It's the beginning. Each child gets to go through the education system once. Every child matters to us as teachers.

There's the withdrawal of certain programmes, such as help for students with English language. We have 1,200 students. It's the biggest school in Dublin, with 25 or 26 different nationalities. We also have a large number of children with special needs, who will be particularly hit.

I'm delighted to see so many people out today. I think they're expressing their disappointment."

TRAINEE TEACHER Ray Mullan, studying at NCAD, currently on placement at St Benildus College, Stillorgan "Job prospects are not looking good for us at all. Out of the 17 student teachers in the year ahead of me who graduated last year, only one managed to get a job in Ireland, up in Donegal. Another got a job in an Irish school in Libya. That's how far people have to go to get a job.

The turnout here is absolutely fantastic. I've just seen a banner for the East Clare INTO. People are coming from all over Ireland. There are retired people and primary school kids. Everyone is united. The mood is disappointment mixed with anger. We are not the only sector getting hit. Education is just one. But we are the ones who are providing education for the new generation.

There's another banner that says 'Short terms cuts, long term damage'. That sums it up for me. I'm an art teacher on my final placement. My main concern would be with the Leaving Cert syllabus. It's been unchanged for 30 years and the new one has been 20 years in the planning. Art has developed so much over the last 30 years. You have to wonder if the new syllabus will ever come in."