Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector begins three day public working sessions [merrionstreet.ie]
- Published: 22 June 2011
The Advisory Group to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in the Primary Sector is holding a three day open working session from today, Wednesday 22nd to Friday 24th June in the Department of Education and Skills in Dublin.
Since the launch of the Forum on 19th of April 2011, some 200 written submissions on the issue of patronage and pluralism in the primary sector have been received. Chairperson of the group, Professor John Coolahan had sought written submission from fourteen main stakeholders, including the Department of Education and Skills, but also invited interested parties to make submissions. These documents are available on the Department’s website, www.education.ie.
The Advisory Group, which consists of Prof Coolahan, Dr Caroline Hussey and Fionnuala Kilfeather will now analyse and evaluate all the submissions received, along with examining research and practices on patronage and pluralism in schools in other countries.
The purpose of the three day working session is to allow the Advisory Group the opportunity to engage in discussion with the main stakeholders, including officials from the Department of Education and Skills, based on their written submissions.
Full Story: www.merrionstreet.ie
From the corner shop to the classroom [IrishTimes]
- Published: 22 June 2011
Dara Hogan used to work as a director and general manager of the firm that owns Spar. Now, he’s applying his skills to provide high-quality early years education in disadvantaged areas – with striking results, writes CARL O'BRIEN
THE JOURNEY to the pre-school building in Brookfield, in west Tallaght, passes through some of the most stark pockets of deprivation in the State. Unemployment here is way above the national average. Early school-leaving rates are among the highest in the country. Literacy is a major problem, too.
As you pass row after row of mostly grey corporation estates and turn the corner onto Brookfield Road, one building stands out: it’s an angular, multi-coloured community centre that many see as a beacon for the area.
The centre is home to Fledglings Early Years, a groundbreaking early childhood education and care facility.
Inside, sunlight streams in the windows and children run around a big room filled with paintings, wooden furniture, sand pits, saucepans and cardboard. In here, early years educators try to reverse the disadvantage faced by many of the children by providing a form of education that is academically proven to have dramatic benefits in later life.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Protest over cut in special needs assistants [IrishTimes]
- Published: 22 June 2011
MORE THAN 100 children, parents, teachers, and special needs assistants took part in a protest outside the Dáil yesterday against cuts in the numbers of special needs assistants.
Students, parents and staff from St Senan’s School in Enniscorthy in Wexford, where a number of children with autism attend, were protesting against the cut of six special needs assistant positions at the school.
Lorraine Dempsey, of the Special Needs Parents Association and area representative for the Wicklow/Wexford area, said the cuts would affect both these children and their classmates.
She said that, while some children are on the lower scale of the spectrum when it comes to behavioural difficulties, they still required assistance.
“The question is how will this impact on the whole class and the teacher trying to teach them,” Ms Dempsey said, adding that there would be further protests as the cuts were announced.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Making the most of the holidays -- 21st century-style [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 June 2011
The country's 3,300 primary schools will close their doors for the summer holidays next week. For half a million children, July and August promise a break from the routine of school, uniforms and homework.
And as most parents see at this time of the year, children are ready for that break. The free time and, hopefully, better weather also give children a chance to do different things.
Unlike many teenagers who are hormonally disposed to sleep until noon, hang out and stay up half the night, primary school children want to be active, or in their terms, "doing stuff". And contrary to popular belief, primary-school children are not genetically attached to PlayStations, Nintendos or social-networking sites.
Some parents feel that a summer camp is a must or their child will lose out. Now, more than ever, financing this is a real nightmare.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
No, Minister, parents are doing all they can to help out schools [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 June 2011
There was something gnawing at Education Minister Ruairi Quinn's good humour recently when he was questioned about a Carlow national school which had been blighted with a rat infestation in 2009.
After first asking "what the hell" were the school's management and principal doing, he turned his fire on the parents, demanding: "What the hell is the community doing?"
Warming to his theme, the minister elaborated: "Take that location in Carlow you are talking about. It's probably surrounded by wonderful houses with two or three cars parked outside every door, and yet the parents living in those houses are content to let them go to a school like that.
"What are they doing about it? When did they last raise it?" the minister demanded.
He ended his tirade: "If my kids were going there, and my kid is only going to be five years of age once, I would get other people around and say 'let's do something about this'."
Full Story: www.independent.ie
