YouTube targets education with network setting for schools [siliconrepublic.com]
- Published: 12 December 2011
Video site YouTube has launched a new network setting aimed at the education market – YouTube for Schools – which allows teachers to bring up useful educational videos only and keep students from being distracted by other content, such as music videos.
The network setting ‘YouTube for Schools’ allows school administrators to grant access only to educational content from YouTube EDU.
Once the network setting is switched on, teachers can choose from the hundreds of thousands of videos on YouTube EDU created by more than 600 partners like the Smithsonian, TED, Steve Spangler Science, and Numberphile.
“Sight, sound and motion have always had the power to engage students and complement classroom instruction by bringing educational topics to life,” explained product manager Brian Truong.
Cut in modern language support [IrishTimes]
- Published: 12 December 2011
Sir, – We are dismayed to hear of the abrupt decision to abolish the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative announced last Tuesday and to divert its funding to the literacy and numeracy programme.
While we appreciate the concern of the Department of Education and Skills with literacy and numeracy, we believe cutting the €2.5 million being used to teach a range of modern foreign languages in more than 500 primary schools nationwide will unnecessarily restrict opportunities for Irish children. Indeed, this cut will impact on children at the age when they are most receptive to language learning.
Research has shown that the learning of modern languages promotes literacy and enhances children’s reading readiness. Principals and teachers involved in the MLPSI have testified that the learning of a third language has not only increased learners’ appreciation of Irish, but has also led to improved performance across all subjects.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Children sacrificed to gods of the market by inhuman budget [IrishTimes]
- Published: 10 December 2011
These measures reflect a failure to see human beings as anything but economic units
MOLOCH HAS been on my mind recently. He was a god of ancient times, traditionally portrayed as a bull, who demanded child sacrifice. Some scholars doubt he was ever worshipped, but as a metaphor, “Moloch” entered the English language.
The markets are the modern Moloch. They are capricious and unpredictable, and their wrath is terrible.
Sadly, in this country, it appears we have decided that the poorest children must be sacrificed to the demands of Moloch.
Anyone objecting to particular parts of the budget will be told there is no alternative: we are in dire straits, and cuts must be made. But surely even if we have to humbly bow down to the markets, we can decide where we inflict the pain?
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
All-Irish school to close despite Minister's views [IrishTimes]
- Published: 10 December 2011
AN ALL-IRISH national school has been told it is closing less than seven weeks after Minister for the Gaeltacht Dinny McGinley told its centenary celebration he hoped it would remain open for another 100 years.
The letter to close the Meenamara school 3km from Loughanure, Co Donegal, arrived on Thursday.
Parents at a meeting with the school board on Thursday night remembered the words of local TD Mr McGinley on the night of the celebration on October 22nd.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Quinn 'hurt' at public service criticism [IrishTimes]
- Published: 10 December 2011
MINISTER FOR Education Ruairí Quinn has admitted to feeling “hurt” by those he said were trying to undermine the public service and urged State employees to ignore “begrudgers”.
At the launch of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA)’s yearbook and diary in Dublin yesterday, Mr Quinn robustly defended the work of public servants and complained that some media commentary was attempting to discredit them.
“It hurts, it actually hurts. I can say it to a group like here. Publicly I can’t admit to being hurt because big boys don’t cry,” the Minister said.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
