In my opinion: The problem is not maths itself, but the culture of fear growing around it [Independent.ie]
- Published: 21 September 2011
The perception that the majority of Irish students are taught mathematics by 'unqualified teachers' does not stand up to scrutiny.
'Pure mathematics' graduates are actually quite rare. The vast majority of maths teachers in Ireland have the subject as a component of their primary degree, often coupled with another subject such as geography, business or a language.
The new emphasis on problem solving and real-life applicability of mathematics in the new Project Maths course also means graduates with engineering and other applied maths backgrounds are particularly well placed to become highly effective teachers.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Diary of a schoolteacher: Respect for teachers? It's been taken off the curriculum this year [Independent.ie]
- Published: 21 September 2011
I'm on a free class so I decide to check out the action on the corridors. It's like walking a back street in Naples -- all the usual unsavoury characters are there, from the girls who were let out to go to the loo because their male teacher was too embarrassed to say no, to the boys who hide behind the lockers waiting for them.
Being a coward myself I decide to leave the girls to their make-up and cigarettes and tackle the only boy stupid (sorry, not allowed to say 'stupid'; I mean 'mistaken') enough to get caught in my headlights.
'Hey!' I shout, 'where do you think you're going? Class started a full 10 minutes ago!' He keeps on walking at a fast pace past one classroom after the other, not even pausing as he snarls a, 'Go away, you! Miss Potter gave me toilet permission.'
Full Story: www.independent.ie
How close is the paperless classroom? [Independent.ie]
- Published: 21 September 2011
St Bridget's Vocational School in Loughrea plans to do away with paper textbooks by 2013.
Instead of buying books, students in first year pay €100 to use a netbook for five years. They also pay an annual €20 maintenance fee, and an annual e-book charge of €110.
Principal Sean Connolly said: "It is a very natural change for the students. If we want to motivate the students we have to reflect the modern world."
It's the final chapter for bulky textbooks [Independent.ie]
- Published: 21 September 2011
Thousands of Irish school pupils have ditched paper textbooks this year in favour of computers and e-books.
We are now at last seeing signs that the age of the digital classroom has arrived, and it may not be as costly as school authorities feared.
Laptops, iPads and netbooks are finally reaching a critical mass in schools.
There are 27 schools around the country taking part in an initiative, led by Irish publisher Edco, where they use e-books. Other publishers are also selling digital versions of their texts.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Prime Time spotlight on Enniscorthy SNA woes [enniscorthyguardian.ie]
- Published: 20 September 2011
THE STAFF, CHILDREN and parents of St. Senan's primary school in Enniscorthy will all feature on 'Prime Time' this week. RTE's Miriam O'Callaghan and her team arrived to spend a day in Father Murphy Park last week as they took a look at special needs education.
The broadcasters were offered full access to the autism unit which has lost five special needs assistants (SNAs) as a result of Government cuts. And they took the time to interview pupil Mike O'Leary and his mother Helene. The programme is due to be screened tonight (Tuesday).
The RTE crew was made very welcome as the supporters of the autism unit took the opportunity to make their case for reversing the cuts. St. Senan's has been to the fore in ACE – the alliance against cuts in education which staged a demonstration outside Dáil Eireann last week.
And families with children attending the autism unit were strongly represented at the protests that marked Taoiseach Enda Kenny's visit to Wexford last week. Seamus O'Leary, whose son is on the roll at the school, made no apology for such high profile tactics.
'We are fighting to get as many of the special needs assistant post back as we can,' he explained. The roll of the SNAs will be highlighted during the Prime Time broadcast.
Full Story: www.enniscorthyguardian.ie
