Financial education at school 'is a must' [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 30 June 2010
Providing financial education to children from a young age could help to prevent problems in the future, it has been suggested.
Zoe Stevens, a spokesperson for Confused.com, said it is important that kids have an understanding of finance-related issues.
"Starting this at a young age will ensure that as they grow up, children are able to make sense of what can seem like complicated financial products," she commented.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Complaints upheld as authority rules 'Prime Time' report lacked balance [IrishTimes]
- Published: 30 June 2010
THE BROADCASTING Authority of Ireland (BAI) has upheld five complaints against RTÉ’s Prime Time over a programme dealing with the new State-controlled model of inter-denominational primary schools.
The programme, which examined the way religion is instructed in new community national schools, was faulted for failing to represent the views of the Department of Education and vocational education committees that will run the schools.
The Catholic bishops have now lodged their own complaint about the broadcast, accusing it of inaccuracies and lack of balance.
The ruling has caused concern within RTÉ, where it is seen as raising the bar for standards of objectivity in programme-making, according to informed sources.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Outright ban on smacking children being considered [IrishTimes]
- Published: 29 June 2010
AN OUTRIGHT ban on the smacking of children by their parents is being considered.
The Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs said the prohibition is being kept “under review” and attempts by other countries to legislate for an outright ban are being examined.
Corporal punishment of children is prohibited in all settings including the home in 18 of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, but is not banned in Ireland and there is common law which recognises a parent’s right to “reasonable chastisement”.
Outlawing physical punishment is seen as problematic given the constitutional guarantees regarding the family.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Schools face wait on new buildings [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 29 June 2010
The Sinn Fein minister told the Assembly that 39 new schools have been built since May 2007 and 13 more will be completed in the near future.
But while a review, which included 67 projects for new schools or major improvements, showed most meet the criteria, Ms Ruane said she did not have the money to proceed.
The minister said she will write to all the schools involved, but said her hopes of building a further 10 schools depended on securing additional funding from Finance Minister Sammy Wilson when Assembly finances are reviewed in the so-called June monitoring round.
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
One-in-four parents admit smacking their children [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 29 June 2010
JUST one in four parents in Ireland admit smacking their children but there is still no widespread support for an outright ban on physical punishment, a new state-funded report reveals.
While 42% of parents feel that smacking should be banned, most parents believe that they should retain the right to smack their children.
The report on Parenting Styles and Discipline funded by the Minister for Children’s office, includes a survey of 1,353 parents conducted at the end of 2007.
Full Story: www.irishexaminer.com
