The Bilingual Advantage [NYTimes.com]
- Published: 30 May 2011
A cognitive neuroscientist, Ellen Bialystok has spent almost 40 years learning about how bilingualism sharpens the mind. Her good news: Among other benefits, the regular use of two languages appears to delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. Dr. Bialystok, 62, a distinguished research professor of psychology at York University in Toronto, was awarded a $100,000 Killam Prize last year for her contributions to social science.
Full Story: www.nytimes.com
Education minister refuses to rule out third level fees – again [Independent.ie]
- Published: 30 May 2011
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has stopped short of ruling out third-level fees but said the issue has not been discussed at Cabinet level.
The senior Labour minister, who signed a pledge before the election against student charges, said he had not come under any pressure from Government colleagues over a return to fees.
"The matter hasn't been discussed. There is a resource issue clearly, just on the sheer numbers," Mr Quinn said.
"The whole question of finance is going to have to be addressed but there are no proposals at the present being considered."
The minister said the Government would have to look at ways to finance the growing demand in the education sector.
But he added: "I have not ruled anything in or anything out."
Mr Quinn signed a Union of Students in Ireland (USI) pledge during the election campaign that Labour would not reintroduce third-level fees in government, or support an increase in the Student Services Charge.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
CCTV use in schools criticised [IrishTimes]
- Published: 30 May 2011
A secondary school in Co Kildare was ordered to remove monitoring cameras from student toilets after parents made a complaint to the Data Protection Commissioner.
The case is outlined in the commissioner's annual report for 2010, published today. It notes that use of CCTV continues to give rise to regular complaints.
Cameras were installed in the student toilets, and the students “objected to this intrusiveness”, the report says. “When their concerns were dismissed, they walked out of the school in protest.” As the cameras were operating in contravention of the Data Protection Acts, the commissioner ordered their immediate removal.
Separately, a primary school in Co Mayo deployed CCTV cameras both inside and outside the premises. The commissioner said that in this case, the school installed the system “without considering the issues it raised and without developing policies to address those issues”. Parents were “justifiably concerned” and made representations to the commissioner's office.
“Our investigation revealed that the requirements of the Data Protection Acts had not been met, and we ordered the system to be switched off,” the report said.
A number of schools were targeted for audits last year, usually in response to complaints about CCTV.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
What’s a primary education for?
- Published: 30 May 2011
In 100 words or less you can have your say about the purpose of primary education.
This information will be used by NCCA to inform changes to the primary curriculum beginning with language in the infant classes. Findings will be published online for anyone interested in what we want for our children today and the curriculum and teachers we need.
Contributions are anonymous. Thanks for taking a moment to tell us what you think at www.childrentheirlivestheirlearning.ie
Be ConnectED - ICT Conference (DCU, Wed 29th June 2011)
- Published: 30 May 2011
Dublin City University is hosting the 2011 International Diverse conference. In association with Diverse, DCU and the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) will host a Professional Development day in the Helix, Dublin City University.
