School's reindeer food is just the business for Santa [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 December 2011
A group of schoolchildren have come up with a way of raising money -- by making magic food for reindeers.
The pupils from Kilcolgan Educate Together National School in Co Galway have developed a thriving business after a school project took off.
The children in senior class, aged nine to 12, have been learning all the skills of entrepreneurship, from idea generation, marketing and selling skills to book-keeping with the help of a start-up business coach.
Crystals
Spotting a gap in the market for more choice in foodstuff for Santa's reindeer, the class submitted a business plan to the school's board of management for a loan to cover the start-up costs.
And with funding in place, production began and Magic Reindeer Food has been flying off the shelves ever since.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Thousands speak out over languages-teaching cuts [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 December 2011
THOUSANDS of people, from all over the world, have signed an online petition to save the teaching of modern languages in Irish primary schools from the Budget axe.
Language academics and the Irish diaspora in countries such as Germany, the US and Canada are among those supporting the campaign to reverse the move.
It will be adios to Spanish, au revoir to French, auf Wiedersehen to German and arrivederci to Italian in 550 primary schools if the cut goes ahead as planned next year.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said it would save €2.5m, which is being diverted to support the new strategy to improve literacy and numeracy among students.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Stop streaming students, it’s harmful to education – ESRI [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 December 2011
STREAMING students based on their ability is harming overall education standards, according to the ESRI.
New research today showed that students in lower streams perform worse when grouped together, the institute said.
Meanwhile, poorer students perform well enough to stop the average student performance from being lower when placed in higher streams
Most schools stream students for some subjects - mostly Maths, Irish and English.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Topical Issue Debate - Languages Programme [debates.oireachtas.ie]
- Published: 14 December 2011
Deputy Brendan Griffin: This matter was brought to my attention in my constituency over the weekend and I intended to raise yesterday but unfortunately it was not selected for discussion. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise it today.
I recognise that all Departments face severe economic constraints and understand the need to make savings in every Department. While it is easy to call for cuts to be reversed without setting out alternative sources of revenue, I strongly believe the decision to scrap the modern languages in primary schools initiative should be reviewed. This excellent initiative supports 500 schools nationwide and has a core team of six people co-ordinating it. It provides training and teaching in modern European languages to young children in primary schools and costs little in the overall scheme of things. While a figure of €2.5 million was cited in budget documentation, I understand the overall cost of the initiative is closer to €2 million.
I am concerned that the decision to abolish the scheme has been taken at a time when we need to be more outward looking by teaching our children European languages and doing our best to prepare them for the global market. The modern languages in primary school initiative is a step in the right direction and I hope the decision will be reviewed. While I understand the initial decision was to end the scheme in January, I have been led to believe it will be extended until June. I ask the Minister of State to ensure the decision is reviewed in the period until June with a view to finding some means of continuing to finance this important initiative.
Full Story: debates.oireachtas.ie
Cyber Bullying: The night I heard my 16-year-old tough-guy son sobbing [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 December 2011
Kevin O'Leary (not his real name) could hear his strapping 16-year-old son crying in his upstairs bedroom. He never heard sobs like it.
That cold January night was when cyber bullying became a very real part of their lives -- and still does almost a year later.
"I don't want to be here and there is nothing here for me. Life is becoming a drudgery," was what his son Colin (not his real name) told him last January. Kevin could not believe what he was hearing, as he sat on the edge of his bed.
Kevin desperately tried to tease out the "pressure points" from his teenage son, thinking it may be girlfriend troubles or study issues. But his son would not tell him what was wrong.
Three weeks later, after hearing his son berate himself out loud while in his bedroom alone, Kevin finally found out what was happening.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
