Primary School Pupils in College for Science [bordgais.ie]
- Published: 14 October 2011
14th October, 2011 – Sixth class primary pupils attended science workshops today at Dublin City University. The pupils were participating in the Bord Gáis Networks Science Forward Programme which introduces students from sixth class primary schools to the world of science and to the environment of third level institutions. The programme, developed by Bord Gáis Networks in partnership with Junior Achievement Ireland, aims to stimulate interest in science and encourages students in participating schools to consider science when making subject choices in post-primary school.
Around 160 students from five local primary schools attended the two day course hosted by DCU. Trained volunteers from Bord Gáis Networks led groups of students through scientific workshops and experiments and explained how these relate to everyday life. Topics included energy in motion through the development of mini-hovercrafts, analysing fingerprints and learning how the human brain functions. Students from St. Margaret’s NS, Finglas, St. Francis NS, Priorswood, Our Lady Immaculate NS, Darndale, St. Fergals Boys School, Finglas, Dublin and Holy Spirit NS, Ballymun, participated in the programme.
Full Story: www.bordgais.ie
Half of teacher claims 'unfounded' [belfasttelegraph.co.uk]
- Published: 14 October 2011
Almost a fifth of teachers who faced accusations in 2009/10 were suspended while claims were investigated, with many waiting weeks for a conclusion.
The survey, commissioned by the Department for Education, examined the number and nature of allegations of abuse referred to 116 English councils between April 1 2009 and March 31 2010. The findings show that of 12,086 allegations referred, 2,827 (23%) were against school teachers.
This is "substantially higher" than in a similar survey conducted in 2007, the research found, although the figures are not directly comparable.
Full Story: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
Government 'taking the cowardly approach' - Principal [sligochampion.ie]
- Published: 13 October 2011
A LOCAL SCHOOL principal and INTO official has accused the current government of taking "the cowardly political approach" of promising not to close small schools while increasing class sizes in bigger schools where large numbers of pupils were affected.
"Every time the pupil/teacher ratio is increased, it affects large numbers of pupils, teachers and parents," the INTO's local media coordinator, John Conlon stated.
Mr. Conlon, a primary school principal in Manorhamilton, added that every big school in Sligo had classes that had more than 30 pupils, going on to warn that the large number of parents, teachers and principals in the bigger schools who were most affected by increases in the pupil/teacher ratio would "not stand idly by."
Full Story: www.sligochampion.ie
PACKING THEM IN [sligochampion.ie]
- Published: 13 October 2011
ABOUT 1,000 primary school pupils throughout County Sligo are in classes of 30 or more. And almost 80% of the 7,000 pupils in the county are in classes that are greater than the EU average.
New figures show that 78% of pupils in Sligo schools are in classes of 20 or more.
"Shocking" was how the general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, Sheila Nunan, described the situation in Sligo.
"These figures area wake-up call for the parents of Sligo's 7,000 primary school pupils in advance of the next budget," Ms. Nunan said.
The INTO has claimed Irish class sizes are the second most crowded in Europe and 20% higher than the EU average.
Full Story: www.sligochampion.ie
School to pay out over bully principal [sligochampion.ie]
- Published: 13 October 2011
A COUNTY SLIGO SCHOOL was yesterday (Tuesday) ordered by the Circuit Court to pay €7,500 to a former pupil who was bullied by the principal during his time there.
The Board of Management of St. Paul's NS in Coollooney had been sued by the parents of the boy, who ended up having to be taken from there and transferred to a different school.
During the short settlement hearing, the court heard that the principal - who was also the boy's class teacher when he entered Fourth Class in September 2008 - bullied and humiliated pupils by tearing up homework for even a simple mistake, pulling children's hair, and one occasion, ordering the boy who brought the case to stand up in front of the class and say he was stupid. Judge Michael White was told that the boy was an intellectually gifted pupil who thrived at the school until going into Fourth Class that year. However, his general mood then began to change. He became " dramatically depressed" and lost interest in his hobbies, and was subsequently taken from St. Paul's in February 2009 and moved to another school.
Full Story: www.sligochampion.ie
