Diary of a schoolteacher: How Mr Moobs, wearing his wellies, missed the Geography field trip [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 December 2010
My esteemed colleague Mr Kurt Moobs thought he had put together the perfect Christmas treat last Thursday -- a geography field trip.
Kurt isn't actually a geography teacher, but of course he wouldn't let a small detail like that spoil a day in the hills, and once he's settled the Sixth Years down to work on the worksheets that he keeps stored up for his days on parole, he nips into the staff loo and changes into his wellies, waterproof trousers and fleece hoodie.
He has told Mr Finnegan, bona fide geographer and keen cartographer and the lovely Miss Gossard, both of whom teach the subject, that he'll join them on the coach at the front of the school at 10 past nine.
Only problem is, however, that they think it's just the latest of Kurt's gusts of bravado.
They know that he's timetabled for Sixth Year at nine. And come on, Kurt, it's not unusual to be sitting with you in a sandwich bar at lunch on any day, throwing back a cappuccino while getting ready to run back to the school only for you to say: "What's the hassle? Leave them in peace and they'll master that autonomous learning thing they were telling us about in that in-service all the faster. Sit down and drink that coffee with a bit of dignity -- you're making a show of me now!"
Full Story: www.independent.ie
One-in-eight primary pupils misses 20 school days a year [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 December 2010
ONE in every eight primary school children misses 20 school days or more each year, a report revealed yesterday.
Absenteeism is far worse among pupils in disadvantaged areas, where up to one in every four children misses 20 days annually, or almost one day in every 10 of the school year.
The 'State of the Nation's Children report: Ireland 2010' published yesterday provides a snapshot of Irish children's lives -- their relationships, habits, health and social status -- and compares them with their peers across OECD countries.
Positive trends include increases in immunisation rates and breastfeeding, particularly among middle-class mothers; while the negatives include the rise in obesity, consistent poverty and absenteeism in a country where maths and reading scores are already relatively poor.
The report, the third in a biennial series, was compiled by the Department of Health and Children, using figures from the Central Statistics Office and other sources.
An analysis of children's relationships with their parents found a significant decrease in the percentage of 15 year olds who say their parents discuss with them how well they are doing at school (43pc in 2009 compared with 48pc in 2006). Significantly more girls (71pc) than boys (49pc) report that their parents spend time just talking with them.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Snow brings early end to school term [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 December 2010
CHRISTMAS came early at schools all around the country yesterday, as the extreme weather forced holidays to begin sooner than usual.
Many schools closed early yesterday and announced they would not be re-opening until January 10.
This week's closures means that thousands of pupils have lost 15 or more days' tuition in a month. This is the fourth week of the Arctic weather and many schools have only managed to open for a few days or a week since November 29, when it took a grip. Schools were supposed to be open up to and including tomorrow before the Christmas break.
Rural schools have been badly affected by hazardous conditions on secondary and minor roads, which have not been gritted, preventing school buses from running.
The heavy snow on the east coast yesterday made life very difficult for schools in Dublin and other major urban centres. Some schools that opened were disrupted by parents arriving to take their children home early.
Among the schools will extend Christmas holidays are Hollypark Boys' National School, Blackrock, Co Dublin; Presentation Primary School, Terenure, Dublin; and several in Co Kerry and Co Louth.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Why the Harry Potter generation gets low marks for literacy . . . [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 December 2010
The apparent drop in literacy levels among Irish schoolchildren is likely to cause much soul-searching in Irish education circles next year.
Improved teacher training and greater involvement of parents in children's education are among the suggestions that have been made after a major report showed an alarming drop in reading scores.
Ireland's educational image took a hammering in the Performance International Student Assessment (PISA) 2009, a three-yearly global league table from the international think-tank, the OECD.
The most spectacular fall was in reading scores, with the ranking of Irish teenagers plummeting from fifth to 17th between 2000 and 2009, putting them at the OECD average.
While our average score in Maths was not surprising, and in line with previous surveys, researchers have been taken aback by our reading score.
Ireland's decline in literacy, according to the survey, was the biggest in any OECD country.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Union says it is up to schools if they want to make up lost snow days [IrishTimes]
- Published: 21 December 2010
SCHOOLS: THE IRISH National Teachers’ Organisation has said individual schools should be left to decide whether or not they make up school days lost during the bad weather.
The union, which is the largest in the country, also dismissed calls for a change to the standardised school year in an effort to make up lost days later in the school year.
The extent of closures had varied, with some schools reporting little disruption, the union said, adding that some schools had used closed days for teacher training and planning.
“Others have taught pupils using the internet where this was possible, while other schools have already made up time lost by working a planned closure on December 8th 2010 where the board agreed to this,” it added.
The union also said the key planning that needed to be undertaken related to the gritting of roads and footpaths, particularly secondary roads. “Nearly every school closure related to safety issues outside of the control of schools,” it added. “If this matter were addressed, there would be fewer closings no matter how bad the weather.”
It dismissed a call from a group representing principals that days could be made up during upcoming holiday periods. “It is not possible to say with any certainty what weather conditions will be like in early January. This makes talk of reopening schools on an earlier date in January, premature and speculative,” it said.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
