IPPN

In Short [IrishTimes]

Published: 14 February 2011

.A round-up of today's other stories in brief

INTO withholds co-operation on jobless teachers working for free

Primary teachers’ union the INTO is to direct members to withhold co-operation with a scheme which could see unemployed teachers working for free in schools, writes Seán Flynn. The scheme, run by Fás, was announced in November by Tánaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan

The decision was taken at a weekend conference in Croke Park and was backed by virtually all 800 delegates. Union general secretary Sheila Nunan later said she was not surprised by the decision.

She said it reflected anger at a 14 per cent cut in new teachers’ pay, proposed reductions to pension benefit and widespread teacher unemployment among graduates and that there was unanimous condemnation of the Tánaiste’s claim it was a major initiative to help the unemployed.

The conference also saw the first education debate of the electoral campaign.

Garda appeal on Dublin assault

Gardaí in Dublin are seeking witnesses to a serious assault that left a man in a critical condition.

The incident, which occurred just before 10.30pm last Friday outside the Irish Life Mall building on Lower Abbey Street, involved two men, one in his late 20s and the other in his early 30s. The man in his 20s was seriously injured and removed to the Mater hospital. His condition is described as critical.

Anyone who was on a number 33 bus nearby, or anyone else in the vicinity, between 10.15pm and 10.30pm on Friday, is asked to contact any Garda station.

Funeral of GAA hurler in Galway

Hundreds of mourners have attended the funeral of a GAA star killed in a car crash in Co Galway.

Barry Shiel (25), who was buried yesterday, was the second member of the Tommy Larkins team which played in an All-Ireland hurling final this weekend three years ago to be killed in a car crash.

Mr Shiel, a plasterer from Kylebrack, Woodford, Co Galway, died from injuries sustained in a single-vehicle incident close to his home last Monday.

The driver of the car was also taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Full Story: www.irishtimes.com

Probation Extension Welcomed By INTO [into.ie]

Published: 14 February 2011

Statement by Irish National Teachers' Organisation on probation extension.

Probation extension welcomed by INTO

The Teaching Council today announced that newly qualified teachers, unable to finish their probation within three years can apply for an extension. The INTO described the development as good news for newly qualified teachers struggling to find regular employment.

At the moment up to 1,000 teachers are finding it difficult to get regular work. Because of this many cannot finish their probation period within three years, the time allowed to do this.

Today the Council announced that teachers can get extensions to this time for a number of reasons. These include unemployment, employment outside Ireland, long term sickness, maternity, paternity or adoptive leave. Also included are unpaid leave, bereavements or absence due to caring for a close relative with serious illness.

Sheila Nunan, General Secretary, INTO, said given the crisis in teacher employment the union had met with the Teaching Council to get clarity on possible extensions to probation. She said uncertainty had added greatly to the stress of newly qualified teachers unable to get enough work to get their probation.

Full Story: www.into.ie

Primary teachers' not to participate in work for free programme [into.ie]

Published: 14 February 2011

The primary teachers union the INTO will issue a directive to its 32,000 members telling them not to participate in a government scheme which could see unemployed teachers working for free in schools. The scheme operated by FAS was announced last November by the Tanaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan.

The decision was taken at a special conference today (Saturday 12^th February) in Croke Park and was almost unanimously supported by the 800 delegates present.

The union's executive, while highly critical of the scheme had previously decided not to oppose it and had stopped short of directing schools not to cooperate.

Speaking after the conference the union's General Secretary, Sheila Nunan said she was unsurprised by the decision. She said it reflected teachers' anger at a fourteen percent cut in the pay of new teachers, proposed reductions to pension benefit and widespread teacher unemployment among graduates.

She also said there was unanimous condemnation of the Tanaiste's claim that the scheme was a major initiative to help the unemployed. "Clearly it is nothing of the sort," she said. "Not one additional job will be created."

The union will now issue a directive to all members telling them not to participate in the scheme.

Full Story: www.into.ie

What Does It Mean to Teach Reading Explicitly? - SEDL.org

Published: 14 February 2011

The National Reading Panel identified five components—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—as necessary for effective early reading instruction. However, effective reading instruction requires more from teachers than just mastery of the five reading components. Teachers also need to develop the art, and language, of teaching reading explicitly.