FG criticises department over school expulsions [thepost.ie]
- Published: 22 November 2009
More than a quarter of students who are expelled from school are put back into the same classroom after appeal to the Department of Education. New figures also show that more than half of students suspended from school are reinstated following appeal.
Fine Gael claims that the figures show that the department is undermining the rights of schools by overturning decisions on unruly behaviour. Fine Gael spokesman Brian Hayes said the department should remove itself from the appeals process and that parents should instead go to the courts. ‘‘This is sending out a very bad message to schools,” Hayes said. ‘‘It’s demolishing the right of the schools to come to a decision about a child that they know.
Full Story: www.thepost.ie
Teachers sick of being lectured [Independent.ie]
- Published: 21 November 2009
As a primary school principal, I am fed up getting lectures on morality from various political, economic and social commentators.
We take our position as moral leaders and moulders of our next generation extremely seriously.
If we look at the example being shown by the elite of our society, it certainly leaves a lot to be desired.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Inspectors raise concerns over unqualified teaching of Irish [IrishTimes]
- Published: 21 November 2009
DEPARTMENT OF Education inspectors have expressed concern about the teaching of Irish in one Dublin school where pupils were being taught by unqualified staff.
In a subject inspection report on Irish teaching at John Scottus Secondary School in Donnybrook, it says the provision made for the language on the school’s timetable is not completely satisfactory.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
All-Irish school is not teaching enough English [Independent.ie]
- Published: 21 November 2009
AN all-Irish second-level school has been told it is not teaching enough English to its Junior Certificate students.
The school, which gives first-year pupils extra classes in Irish, should increase English lessons from four to five per week, say official inspectors. The comments are made in a series of inspector reports published yesterday about Gaelcholaiste Mhuire, one of four schools on the North Monastery campus in Cork.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
H1N1- we may be over the worst [irishhealth.com]
- Published: 20 November 2009
We may, for the time being anyway, be over the worst of the swine flu pandemic, according to the latest statistics.
The recent swine flu upsurge appears to be on the wane, with overall incidence showing a substantial drop this week, although cases in children have increased.
And with the vaccine programme gathering pace, we are likely to be well-protected against a potential further wave of H1N1 infection in the future.
Full Story: www.irishhealth.com
