Facebook 'We're waging war on web bullies ... but need your help' [Herald.ie]
- Published: 29 September 2011
PARENTS, social networking sites and young people should all share the responsibility for keeping children safe on the net, according to Facebook.
Over the past week, the Herald has highlighted the role of the internet on the earlier sexualisation of Irish children.
Today, we reveal Facebook's opinion on the matter.
Part of the problem emphasised by our investigation was the huge number of girls and boys who are prepared to put up inappropriate material on Facebook -- and never think it's worth reporting.
In other words, they put themselves at risk without thinking twice about it, and for this reason, Facebook believes that while the organisation needs to promote internet safety, it "shares this responsibility with parents as well as children".
The organisation explained that like driving, young people should protect themselves and others by adopting the correct conduct. A spokesperson for the internet giant admitted that while measures were in place to prevent pre-teens from accessing the site, there is no way of checking the identity of new users.
Full Story: www.herald.ie
Minister of State for Research and Innovation publishes Maths Teaching Survey results [education.ie]
- Published: 29 September 2011
Minister of State for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD, today published the final results of the Maths Teaching Survey carried out by the Teaching Council.
The Minister noted the results of the survey which shows that out of a total of 3,311 teachers teaching maths in 422 schools, 2,198 teachers (66.4%) are fully qualified[1] to do so, 1,029 teachers (31.1%) have undergone some studies in maths[2] and only 84 (2.5%) have no third level qualifications/studies in maths.
Commenting on the survey, Minister Sherlock said: "I want to thank schools for taking the time to complete the survey as it provides us with valuable information on what the current situation is in these schools. As I have already said I want to get to a situation where all teachers of maths have a maths qualification and the training programme I announced on 12th September will help to achieve that."
The new training programme for maths teachers, announced on the 12th September, forms part of the Government's overall strategy to improve the teaching and learning of maths in schools. It will provide unqualified maths teachers with the opportunity to upskill their knowledge of mathematics and study the strategies best suited to the new Project Maths syllabuses.
Full Story: www.education.ie
Minister Cannon launches the Standing Conference on Teacher Education North and South (SCoTENS): Ninth Annual Conference: - Promoting Literacy and Numeracy through teacher education [education.ie]
- Published: 29 September 2011
The Minister of State for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon, T.D., today launched the Annual Conference of SCoTENS (the Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South) at the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel, Co. Cavan.
The keynote speakers were Professor Terezinha Nunes, Professor of Educational Studies at University of Oxford, Professor Sir Bob Salisbury, formerly of the School of Education, University of Nottingham and Dr Harold Hislop, Chief Inspector at the Department of Education and Skills.
Describing SCoTENS as "a most important bridge between those involved in teacher education, north and south," Minister Cannon noted the wide scope of the organisation's activities: "SCoTENS has supported 71 educational projects since its inception, across a very broad range of teacher-education topics, and there have been 17 significant reports published in a short timeframe."
The Minister welcomed the conference's focus on literacy and numeracy, saying that "a major issue facing both of our systems, north and south, is the need to improve standards in literacy and numeracy."
Full Story: www.education.ie
DES Circular 0065/2011 [education.ie]
- Published: 29 September 2011
The Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn, TD, today published updated child protection procedures for schools.
The "Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools" have been developed following extensive consultation with the education partners and are based on the recently published Children First – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011.
The procedures will apply with immediate effect to both primary and post-primary schools and replace previous guidelines issued in 2001 and 2004 respectively.
The purpose of these procedures is to give clear direction and guidance to school management authorities and school personnel in implementing Children First within the school setting.
The procedures contain important new elements which are intended to better ensure consistent and uniform implementation across all schools. These include measures designed to ensure a consistency of approach in relation to each school's Child Protection Policy and the oversight arrangements for its implementation at school level. The procedures also require all primary schools to fully implement the Stay Safe programme.
The Minister welcomed the publication of the procedures and said that they will be a significant step forward in helping to ensure that we have robust child protection arrangements in all our schools.
Links to the Guidelines are:
World School Milk Day -Thousands of Children Receive Free School Milk Today [ndc.ie]
- Published: 28 September 2011
Wednesday 28th September 2011 is World School Milk Day, designated by the UN (United Nations) Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO). At home, over 40,000 primary school children in the Republic of Ireland will receive their school milk free today, in an initiative by National Dairy Council member co-ops to celebrate the day.
“Children normally receiving the carton of milk every day in school as part of the school milk programme, are getting a small carton which is packed with great value as well as goodness,” according to Dr. Catherine Logan, Nutrition Manager with The National Dairy Council.
Dr Logan explains that a portion of milk (1/3 pint) provides a source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iodine and vitamins B2 and B12, which means that milk can provide real nutritional ‘value’, as an affordable source of nutrition.
The nutrients calcium, phosphorus and protein naturally available in milk are needed by children for the growth and development of bones. These nutrients also help to maintain normal bones, while calcium and phosphorus are noted for their role in the maintenance of teeth and protein contributes to the growth or maintenance of muscle mass.
Full Story: www.ndc.ie
