Tales from the front line
- Published: 04 December 2008
Source : Evening Herald
As teachers and parents prepare to march about conditions on Saturday, we ask 40 schools across Dublin to spell out how the cuts will affect services.
1. St Sylvester's School, Malahide. Teachers at the school are most concerned about the lack of substitute cover. "If the principal is out sick, the deputy principal will have to take over," said Sharon Dunne, principal. "The deputy already has 29 junior infants to teach and will also have to deal with parents' concerns and administration and teaching."
2. St Kevin's Boys School, Finglas. This school has a disadvantaged status but could lose teachers and a home-school liaison officer. "We have 14 teachers and we could be losing two," said the principal.
3. St Kevin's Girls School, Dublin 8. This school expects to lose one teacher. "We registered an additional pupil on 13 October, which would have brought our numbers up to maintain teachers," said the principal. "Now we think we will lose one teacher."
4. Belgrove Junior School, Clontarf. "The cut of grants will affect this school the most," said principal Vincent Crowley. "Our classrooms are very crowded -- they are approximately half the recommended size for a classroom." The school was hoping for a grant for an extension. "The roofing leaks constantly and we have had to replace the rotting windows."
5. Corduff National School, Lusk. As this is a small school, the principal doesn't believe that they will lose any staff members. "But we are in a developing area with a lot of housing around. In two or three years we may have to refuse children," he said. They will also be affected by the lack of funding available for building works. "The school is 102 years old," he added. "We applied for grant and luckily received it, but it wasn't enough. We built just four walls, because otherwise we would lose the grant, we have to come up with the rest of the money to fit it out."
6. Finglas Parochial National School. The school said that they have been seeking a grant for an extension. "We are unsure about whether we will receive this now," the principal said.
7. Guardian Angels National School, Blackrock. They said that the range of cuts will affect them as will the loss of substitute cover for uncertified sick leave. "There is a possibility of losing one member of staff," the principal stated.
8. Kilcloone National School, Dunboyne. The staffing levels at this school won't be affected this time but the principal said that there are big issues with substitute teachers. "The meanest cut was the free book grant," said the principal. "It was only a little bit of money towards the cost of books."
9. North Dublin National School Project, Ballymun Road. The school said that they are close to losing a teacher. "These cuts will cost the State more at the end of it all," principal Sally Sheils said. "I've rarely seen parents this upset -- it's very hard if children are suffering."
10. Rutland Street National School, Dublin 1. This school estimates that 40pc of the school are newcomer children, but while they don't believe the cuts will affect them, they are vehemently opposing the cuts. "Language support teachers have been capped at two," said principal Darina Burke.
11. St Joseph's National School, East Wall, Dublin 3. This school said that it could see the loss of three staff jobs and they were due to apply for heating system grant. "These are savage cuts, in the long term we will have to deal with suicide, depression and dysfunctional families," the principal said.
12. St Maelruin's School, Tallaght. The principal of this school said that the cuts which will affect them are the loss of the library grants and funding for resource teachers. "The grant for resources for special needs teachers will affect us," said the principal Iris McMenamin.
13. St Audoen's National School, Cook Street, Dublin 8. This school which is on a DEIS band said that they don't think they will be affected at all and that there is more funding available than ever before. "Comparing 2008 to 30 years ago, I think there is more funding available than ever before," said principal Donal Monaghan.
14. St Lorcan's School, Palmerstown. The school will not lose any teachers, but are frustrated with the grants cut. "It's just a small amount of grants that we are provided," said the principal.
15. Ballyroan Boys School, Ballyroan. They stand to lose one teacher. "We registered 286 pupils but there are 288 students now and we need 291 in school to maintain the number of teachers," the principal, Gerry O'Brien said.
16. Convents National School, Co Dublin. "Our numbers are midway so I don't believe we will be hugely affected," said the principal.
17. Kill O'Grange National School, Co Dublin. "We spend our lives planning, we were given no warning," said principal Hillary McBain. She said they would be affected by the lack of substitute cover in January. "We are lucky we are an advantaged school, we are not in the heart of the impact," she said.
18. St Marnock's National School, Portmarnock. "We don't expect there to be an immediate affect," said Pat Keavney, principal. "But it could happen the following year."
19. St Joseph's National School, Dublin 17. The principal said that they are a DEIS school and so will receive more funding from the government.
20. St Margaret's School, Co Dublin. "These cuts will hugely affect a small school," the principal said.
21. Archbishop Ryan School, Clondalkin. "We will be losing a book grant and a home-school liaison officer, which is not necessarily a teacher," said the deputy principal.
22. Scoil Mhuire, Dublin 4. Principal Noreen Smith said they would be directly affected by substitute cover. "It is the organisation of school we are most troubled by."
23. Glenasmole National School, Bohernabreena. The principal said: "We will be affected by substitute cover for teachers who are ill."
24. Harold's Cross National School, Harold's Cross. Principal Bernadette Keogh said that the school did not have adequate space and they would be affected by substitute cover. "Teachers are a dedicated bunch, they come in when dying," she said. "Our classes are overcrowded, it is a health and safety issue."
25. St Thomas National School, Lucan. The principal said: "Despite increased capitation we will be working with less money. A lot of our students are international, approximately 30pc of 480 children and the pupil teacher ratio is expanding."
26. Talbot National School, Clondalkin. The principal said: "We are DEIS band one so we don't believe we will lose staff. But we will be affected by substitute cover."
27. Naul National School, Naul. Principal said: "I don't think we will lose teachers but will be affected by lack of subs."
28. North Bay National School, Dublin 5. Principal Sally McGinley said that the school is categorised by a small degree as disadvantaged. "We will lose our home-school liaison officer our book grant and learning support. We have always had to fundraise."
29. St Ronan's National School, Clondalkin. "We are DEIS band one," said the principal. "But we have five language support teachers if the Government stick to the plan, we will lose three. We need the support now."
30. Holy Rosary School, Tallaght. Principal Max Cannon said that about 40pc of the children in the school are not of Irish origin. "We have three language teachers, we are going to lose one. It is of great concern to parents. The nuances of language are not learned within a year."
31. Ard Mhuire National School, Tallaght. "We are a developing school, but believe we will be affected by the number of grants available to Travellers and special needs," said the principal.
32. Scoil Cnoc Mhuire, Tallaght. "Our Traveller grant will be affected," the principal said. "It is a disadvantaged area -- there is very little fundraising available among parents."
33. St Peter Apostle, Clondalkin. "The cutbacks in book and library grants will affect our students the most," the principal said.
34. Balscadden National School, Balbriggan. "There will be increased class numbers," the principal said. "The lack of substitute cover and book grants will affect us the most."
35. Our Lady's National School, Milltown. "We are a DEIS school, but you never know what will happen if the Government get their way on this," said principal Gerald Henehan.
36. Queen of Angels, Sandyford. "We will lose one language teacher and almost one third of our students are international," said principal Susan Gibney. "We are a disadvantaged school. We don't have parents to finance us. We don't have enough to deal with daily costs."
37. Scoil Naisiunta St Colmcilles, Swords. Principal Jim Bennett said that the school could lose one mainstream teacher and two language support teachers.
"There are 90 to 100 international students out of a total of 475," said the principal. "Also 40pc of infant enrolment is international. The Government haven't told us the level allowance for international students.
Does 20pc qualify?" The school also applied for summer work scheme in 2009 but it was cancelled. They engaged a consultant to examine the windows and roof and assumed that they would get some grant in September. Mr Bennett said that he suspects the school will not get the grant now.
38. St Mochtas National School, Clonsilla. Principal Terry Alan said that the school has six language support teachers. "We stand to lose four," he said. "The pupil teacher ratio is up, so this is an increase in class size and staffing ratio, combined with withdrawal of language support, it's unacceptable."
39. Divine Word, Rathfarnham. Deputy principal Barbara Kenny said: "It was always our policy to keep three small Junior Infant classes of 18-20 per class," she said. "Now we will have to go back to two big classes. We could lose one teacher. We have one of the biggest classroom sizes in Europe."
40. Donabate Girls National School, Donabate. Principal Margaret O'Neill said: "We are one of the lucky schools in that we are not losing a teacher, we were two students above the requirement," she said. "But that is not to say that we won't be affected next year.
Is it time to teach pupils manners?
- Published: 04 December 2008
Source : Irish Independent
During transition year at Colaiste Bride the girls learn how to hold a knife and fork. They are also taught about proper deportment -- how to sit and stand correctly, and how to shake hands and make good eye contact.
There are two classes in etiquette every week in fourth year at the Enniscorthy school.
At the end of the year the girls go out for a slap-up dinner at Kelly's Hotel in Rosslare, where they are given an opportunity to put their good manners into practice.
"Manners should be taught in the home,'' says teacher Maria Whitty-Sexton. "But they should also be reinforced in school.''
Etiquette may be considered by some detractors as a fusty Victorian pre-occupation that went out of fashion at the same time as elegant handwriting and proper punctuation.
But it is back on the table in education.
Many parents, teachers and other "elders and betters'' now find themselves in agreement with Ferdinand von Prondzynski, president of Dublin City University.
At a recent DCU graduation ceremony he complained of "a deficit of courtesy and good behaviour in society today''.
He called for a return to the days when good manners were appreciated and encouraged.
"It has become common to see groups of people -- often young men -- gathering in groups and terrorising local communities," he said.
"We see people driving cars who, while they are polite and considerate in their normal lives, become maniacs behind the wheel, showing aggression and recklessness. And we see people's behaviour with mobile phones in public places, clearly unconcerned about the disturbance or irritation caused to others.
"Manners are an important element in the idea of a community -- concern for and solidarity with others, and showing mutual respect. But we now treat the concept of manners as outdated, and maybe even vaguely embarrassing. Real manners are about respect and empathy, and support for community building,'' he added.
Professor Prondzynski suggested that there should be a social framework which supports manners and etiquette.
"We can't complain about young hooligans if we are doing nothing to create social spaces for them," he said.
"We no longer systematically provide youth clubs and other places where they can mix without this becoming threatening. We cannot just blame offenders if we are failing to provide the necessary supports.''
So who should actually be responsible for teaching manners? Those who oppose etiquette education might argue that teaching table manners and general consideration for other people is the responsibility of parents. Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association, disagrees.
"I believe that you have to teach manners in school, and in particular primary school, because there is a generation of parents who do not know about manners themselves.
"It is extraordinary to see how many people nowadays do not stand back to let a lady through a door. So many people now have poor table manners.''
Moriarty says etiquette should be taught as part of the curriculum at primary and second level.
"We should have norms of behaviour, where children are taught respect.''
"I believe we threw the baby out with the bath water in the '60s, when we grew our hair and increased the size of our flares,'' says Moriarty.
"It was all about the rights of individuals and doing what you want, regardless of the effects on other people.
"It is time to restore some balance.''
At Colaiste Bride, the etiquette classes encompass a wide variety of subjects including personal grooming, hygiene and letter writing.
"Formal letter writing is a skill that has largely been lost,'' says teacher Maria Whitty-Sexton. "I teach the girls how to write a letter of condolence, thank-you letters and letters of complaint.
"They write in fountain pen and actually post the letters to each other using stamps.''
Whitty-Sexton includes new technology in her etiquette programme.
"The girls are taught that it is good manners to turn your mobile phone off when you are having a meal," she said. "They should also have a discreet ring tone, rather than something that will offend people.''
Of course, elders and betters have always complained about deteriorating standards of behaviour. According to some accounts, the citizens of ancient Egypt complained about the poor behaviour of uncouth youth.
George Bernard Shaw's wife Charlotte was so appalled at our standards of etiquette that she left $263,200 in her will for a campaign "to polish the manners of the Irish''.
- Kim Bielenberg
How school cuts add up to misery
- Published: 04 December 2008
Source : Evening Herald
Thursday December 04 2008
MANY primary schools in Dublin stand to lose up to six staff members each because of the Budget cutbacks, a Herald survey reveals.
As teachers, pupils and teachers prepare to march on the Dail on Saturday, we found deep seated anxiety in the schools about the reality of Minister Batt O'Keeffe's cuts.
Our survey of 40 primary schools reveals that principals are desperately worried about how their schools will cope.
The biggest grievances highlighted are the removal of substitute cover for uncertified sick leave, the reduction in the number of English language teachers, the increase in class sizes and the removal of certain grants.
From January 1, schools will not be entitled to a substitute teacher to provide cover for a teacher who is absent without a medical cert.
A total of 80pc of the schools surveyed said they were most concerned about this particular issue, with principals pointing out that teachers only really take a day off when they are very ill.
Dedicated
"Teachers are a dedicated bunch, they come in when they are dying," said Bernadette Keogh, Principal Harold's Cross National School.
"And no doctor will give a medical cert for one day, so it means that teachers will have to pay €60 to get a cert for a week," she said.
Also frustrating teachers is the change in the teacher-pupil ratio, which is increasing the number of children per class.
The change in the staffing schedules sees teachers appointed to 28 child classes rather than 27 child classes.
From the survey, 62pc of principals were also concerned about the impact this would have on children and on teachers.
Out of the 40 schools in Dublin contacted, principals anticipate there will be 21 teachers who will lose their jobs.
Hindered
Most schools in the newer areas of Dublin said that they will be hindered by the cap in the number of English language teachers, which has been set at two.
And while Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe said there would be "some alleviation" for the schools with a concentration of international pupils, principals said that they had not been made aware of what this would entail.
A total of 58pc of principals interviewed also said that they were annoyed at the reduction in the various grants to assist disadvantaged students which they described as "the meanest cut" and the removal of the library grant.
The protest begins at noon at Parnell Square.
- Claire Murphy
Minister O'Keeffe informs Dáil of interim arrangements for substitution in second-level schools for rest of school year
- Published: 04 December 2008
Source : D.E.S
The Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, today informed the Dáil that proposals had been made to his department by second-level management bodies identifying annual savings of €16 million on substitution costs and how these savings can be made in the current year and on a continuing basis.
The proposals involve replacing heretofore demand-led availability of cover for uncertified sick leave and official school business, costing €21 million per annum, with an allocated or budgeted scheme costing €5 million per annum.
On the basis of these proposals and discussions between the management bodies and his Department, the Minister said he is making available €2.7 million to second-level schools for the remainder of the school year.
This will provide each school with a limited number of hours of substitution cover outside of the supervision and substitution scheme.
The Minister intends that, during this period, there will be a full review of the substitution and supervision scheme in conjunction with the school management bodies and teacher unions with a view to making up this additional €2.7 million expenditure and thereby ensuring that the budgetary parameters are met.
The implementation of the proposals made by second-level management bodies will, over the balance of the current school year, enable second-level schools to manage unpredictable teacher absences due to uncertified sick leave, as well as providing for a new basis for managing the use of substitution cover for school business.
The Minister added that he would also be open to similar constructive suggestions from primary school management bodies.
ENDS
Schools survey reveals how we'll pay for education cuts
- Published: 04 December 2008
Source : Corkman.ie
By MARIA HERLIHYThursday December 04 2008
MORE than 26 secondary teachers will get the chop from 15 schools in Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe's Cork North West Constituency — according to a new survey that also shows how the recent budget on education will impact on parents pockets to the tune of €300 per student.
The survey which was conducted by the Cork County Committee of the Post Primary Education Forum, which represents the National Parent Council, school management bodies and teacher trade unions.
The survey took in 15 secondary schools in the Cork North West, which had an enrolment of 5,706 students. From the figures furnished it concluded that over 26 teachers would lose their jobs as a direct result of the recent Budget's decision to increase class sizes. Another finding concluded that the €137,000 grant aid would be withdrawn.
The survey also outlined how school subjects were also at risk - 13 schools said subjects would be lost to students. Physics classes are now at risk in four schools, chemistry classes in two schools and music in one school — accounting, science and RE would also take a hit.
Transition Year is at risk in six of the 15 schools, with the Applied Leaving Cert at risk in one.
Ten of the schools reported 'no capacity to facilitate games' with the other five reporting 'very limited capacity'. And schools reported similar capacities for field trips and co-curricular activities.
"We think we will lose our home school liaison teacher," said Seamus Buckley, principal of Colaiste Treasa in Kanturk, which has 40 teachers and 422 students on its rollbook. "The budget put severe cuts on schools and it will have an impact on all schools. It won't be until September before we fully see and feel the full impact of this."
In nearby Boherbue Comprehensive School, which has 38 staff and 317 on its rollbook, vice principal Jim Fitzgerald shared the same view as Mr Buckley.
"We will definitely lose our home school liaison teacher, and that is a great loss," said Mr Fitzgerald. The abolition of the book grant scheme and a hike in the transport fee from €168 to €300 will also leave a ripple effect at the school."
- MARIA HERLIHY
