Children Call for Mental Health to Top Ministers’ To Do Lists [childrensrights.ie]
- Published: 29 September 2010
Today the Government is returning from its summer break and the Children’s Mental Health Coalition is delivering a reminder to put children’s mental health at the top of their ‘to do’ list for the new Dáil term. As part of the Coalition’s campaign, messages on mental health will be delivered on giant pencil cases by students from St. Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue, and the Chair of the Coalition, Jillian van Turnhout. These will be presented outside the main Dáil gates, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 today (29 September) at 10.30am to Ministers Barry Andrews TD, John Moloney TD, Mary Harney TD, Dermot Ahern TD and Mary Coughlan TD.
Students from schools around the country have added their voice to the more than 45 organisations already signed up to the Coalition, by writing personal messages to Government Ministers, with responsibility for health, justice, education and children, on the importance of mental health to children and young people.
The Coalition’s manifesto, published in December 2009, sets out solutions that will breathe life into the Government’s four-and-a-half year old mental health policy A Vision for Change and ultimately, improve the lives of children and young people in Ireland.
Jillian van Turnhout, Chair of the Coalition and Chief Executive of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said: “September signals the start of the new school year and now the Ministers are returning for their new Dáil term, we are asking for renewed commitment to children’s mental health.
Full Story: www.childrensrights.ie
Children from poorer backgrounds over a year behind in language skills, study finds [IrishTimes]
- Published: 29 September 2010
CHILDREN FROM low-income families are 1½ years behind their middle-class peers in language ability when they start school, according to a US literacy expert.
Dr Timothy Shanahan, who was appointed by former US president George Bush to advise on literacy, said these research findings from the University of Chicago were shocking.
“That’s a big difference when you think of a five- or six-year-old child who’s already a year and a half behind his peers,” he said.
“One of the things they found was that the average middle-class first grader [aged five or six] had been read to for more than 1,200 hours.
“There were children in a lot of low-income families who would have been only read to 25 hours in their entire life. Think about that difference in terms of the amount of language experience.”
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Fury as unqualified teachers get legal right to give classes [Independent.ie]
- Published: 29 September 2010
TEACHERS were last night furious over government plans to give unqualified personnel a legal right to teach in schools.
The Government insists it will only occur in certain exceptional and limited circumstances -- and only in consultation with management, unions and the Teaching Council, which maintains a register.
But INTO general secretary Sheila Nunan said that, given the numbers of teachers unemployed or working elsewhere, it was astonishing that Education Minister Mary Coughlan should even contemplate the employment of non-teachers.
"It is completely unacceptable for a non-teacher to be employed in schools when highly qualified teachers are seeking work," said Ms Nunan.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Young migrants make a case against racism [Independent.ie]
- Published: 28 September 2010
AN exhibition of suitcases detailing the poignant -- and at times disturbing -- experiences of young migrant schoolchildren went on display last night as part of a travelling anti-racism campaign.
'Suitcase Stories' is the brainchild of UNICEF director Melanie Verwoerd, who was inspired after seeing a similar exhibition in her native South Africa.
The exhibit features old suitcases filled with children's artwork, photographs and other personal items to symbolise the child's life as a migrant and their former home. The outer lid of the case represents their life here.
Many of the 14 children taking part came to Ireland with their parents as refugees or were born here. Others made their home in Ireland as immigrants.
But the touching depictions of the struggles in their lives both here and in their homelands have a recurring theme of homesickness and of being an outsider.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Probationary Requirements for Registration Purposes for Primary Teachers. [education.ie]
- Published: 27 September 2010
