'Code of silence' over teacher aggression [IrishTimes]
- Published: 08 February 2010
A “CODE of silence” exists among teachers when it comes to discussing teacher aggression and poor practice in schools, a new study has found.
It found that negative techniques such as yelling, deliberately embarrassing students and sarcasm were used by teachers but teachers were extremely reluctant to discuss the issue.
Teacher Monica Monahan researched negative teacher behaviour as part of her Masters in Education (aggression studies) at Trinity College Dublin.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Reverse decision to axe supply teacher panels [tribune.ie]
- Published: 08 February 2010
As a permanent, substitute primary teacher in the Ballymun/Finglas area for the past 16 years, I fully agree with incoming INTO General Secretary,Sheila Nunan, who has called on minister Batt O'Keefe to reverse the decision to abolish panels of supply teachers.
This substitute teacher supply panel system was set up in 1993 and comprises 60 teachers covering 212 schools in mainly disadvantaged areas.
On any given day we need an estimated 800 qualified primary substitute teachers. Ireland is in fact the only OECD country that does not have a proper national teacher supply system.
Full Story: www.tribune.ie
Irish teens are sophisticated internet users - Microsoft [businessandleadership.com]
- Published: 08 February 2010
However, the research has shown worrying gaps in teens’ online safety awareness and overall internet education.
Some 62pc of those surveyed said their parents/guardians are doing nothing to encourage them to be safe online.
Full Story: www.businessandleadership.com
O'Keeffe plan to scrap NUI faces major new delays [Independent.ie]
- Published: 08 February 2010
EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe's plan to scrap the National University of Ireland faces major delays.
The NUI is a federal umbrella body that consists of four major universities and a number of colleges, including the Royal College of Surgeons.
Mr O'Keeffe's plan to disband the body -- announced last month -- has met with a cool reception from the university, many of its graduates and others.
But it now emerges that a number of hurdles have to be overcome, and that the NUI degrees and bursaries will still be issued into the future.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
73% of children fear internet strangers - survey [IrishTimes]
- Published: 08 February 2010
A NEW survey highlights the fear and confusion felt by many children who use the internet but also found a willingness by children to post personal details on the web.
Some 73 per cent of children surveyed said they were worried about being contacted by someone they didn’t know on the internet. That figure rose to 77 per cent for children in the 9-12 age bracket but was 69 per cent for 13-16 year olds.
The survey of 860 children in 37 schools, aged between 9 and 16, is published by the National Centre for Technology in Education this week to mark Safer Internet Day, which takes place all over Europe tomorrow.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
