Excessive homework ‘a pointless exercise’ for students [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 15 November 2011
EXCESSIVE homework is a pointless exercise that is eroding family life, an education expert has claimed.
"The Irish education system is stuck in a vortex and homework is actually creating bad habits for life in our nation’s children," said Dr Naoisé O’Reilly.
She said parents expected their children to be given homework and teachers were prescribing massive amounts, like a useless drug.
"Perhaps parents should start asking how doing homework helps you get on in life," she said
Dr O’Reilly believes there are more creative and effective ways for young people to retain information.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Martin to resist cuts to education in budget [IrishTimes]
- Published: 14 November 2011
FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin has accused the Government of having a “deeply cynical” approach to education and said his party would oppose any “indiscriminate cuts” in the upcoming budget.
Mr Martin said every significant expansion in educational participation had come about through the policies of Fianna Fáil governments when he delivered the address at the annual Seán Moylan commemoration in Kiskeam, Co Cork.
“Education is a core value for us and one where the need to challenge the current Government . . . The Government’s talk [is] about cutting teacher numbers, cutting special needs assistants, increasing class sizes, reducing the number of years of second-level education and preventing children from starting school at [age] four. If this agenda is implemented it will cause huge damage.”
Mr Martin warned that Ireland could only have a strong economy if it continued to give priority to education, saying the parts of the economy that had remained robust and created jobs were sectors in which “skills and advanced knowledge” were most important.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Schools to target cyber bullying [insideireland.ie]
- Published: 14 November 2011
This week 650 schools in Northern Ireland will launch a scheme to target cyber bullying.
Figures from the Department of Education in Northern Ireland, suggest 15.5% of Year 6 pupils and 17% of Year 9 pupils surveyed have experienced cyber bullying in recent months.
As today marks the beginning of anti-bullying week many schools aim to challenge cyber bullying inside and outside of schools.
A regional anti-bullying co-coordinator, Lee Kane stated “Anti-bullying week is a great opportunity to reinforce key anti-bullying messages for all of those involved in schools – pupils, teachers, support staff and parents.”
Full Story: www.insideireland.ie
New study finds quarter of youngsters bullied [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 November 2011
VERBAL abuse is rife in schools with one in four youngsters saying they have been bullied in the last year, research suggests.
Many more young people have seen or heard others subjected to verbal bullying, it says.
Campaigners raised concerns that verbal insults - such as name calling and the use of derogatory language - is seen as less serious than other types of bullying, warning that the emotional impact on victims can be just as damaging.
A poll of almost 1,000 11 to 16-year-olds, commissioned by the Anti-Bullying Alliance, reveals that 26pc of youngsters say they have been verbally bullied in the last year.
Of these, 79pc said it had happened at school.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Fury over Quinn's plan to axe grants for post-graduates [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 November 2011
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn faced a backlash last night after it emerged that up to 3,600 post-graduate students may lose grants of €6,000 each from September.
Mr Quinn is considering charging every person who goes into the post-grad system and cutting off their grants. Currently around 3,600 of the 9,000 students qualify for free fees and state grants, worth around €6,000 each per year, while they pursue a diploma, masters or PhD.
But there were warnings last night that axing state support might block unemployed workers who are trying to go back to college to improve their skills and also make post-graduate qualifications the "preserve of the wealthy elite".
Fine Gael Wexford TD Liam Twomey said there were many people with degrees who wanted to get an extra qualification to allow them to work in sec-tors where jobs were plentiful.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
