Today's lesson: a school is not merely a building [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 June 2011
I was reminded of the old African proverb "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now" as I reflected on the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, recently established by Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn.
I agree that a debate on patronage/trusteeship is important, and in my view is long overdue. The rationale seems to be that there are too many Catholic schools. In order to ensure diversity of values, beliefs, language and traditions why not divest a percentage of Catholic schools to other more inclusive, more pluralistic, more caring educational bodies?
If this is the assumption on which the forum is based then it needs to be challenged. Catholic schools already serve diverse student populations in inner city areas and throughout the country.
In 2008, the Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST) was established as a company and a registered charity. This lay trust was given responsibility for the 97 primary and post-primary schools in the Republic formerly under the trusteeship of the Christian Brothers.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
An Algerian, a Filipino, a Sri Lankan walk into a garden. . . [Independent.ie]
- Published: 15 June 2011
William Shakespeare, coining one of the most famous phrases in the English language, had Juliet tell Romeo: "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
The bard's point was that it doesn't matter what we call objects because they have an essence beyond words.
As always, Shakespeare was spot on, but if he'd been running a modern primary school drawing pupils from a score of countries and cultures, he might have tweaked the line a bit.
The Thornleigh Educate Together National School in Swords, Co Dublin, has installed a Magical Sensory Garden, and its first and foremost purpose is to furnish a common ground for young children coming from many parent tongues.
A rose is still a rose whether it's named in Romanian or Chinese or Estonian, and the various features encourage the children to converse in the universal language of play, curiosity and discovery.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Union welcomes move to prevent schools using unqualified teachers [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 15 June 2011
The Department of Education has announced that planned changes to the law that could see untrained staff employed as teachers will not go ahead.
Last year, the previous government caused controversy when it brought forward an amendment to the Teaching Council Act that would have allowed non-teaching staff to be employed as teachers and paid the same rate, the Irish Independent reports.
However, Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has indicated he will move away from these plans.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Campaign to cut school book costs launched [dublinpeople.com]
- Published: 15 June 2011
THE Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) is seeking support from Northsiders for its campaign to reduce the publication of unnecessary new school book editions. The charity is asking parents to sign a petition calling on Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn, to set up an effective national book rental scheme.
SVP National President, Mairead Bushnell, said the constant flow of unnecessary new editions means that families are continually forced to keep paying for new texts. “Education is a right, and it's supposed to be free,” Ms Bushnell told Northside People. “But Ireland is one of only a few European countries to make even the poorest pay for books. It's a shocking burden on hard-pressed families.
“By the time they leave school, a family with four children could have spent as much as e3,200 on secondary school books alone. Most of the time, can’t even be reused.” In many European countries schoolbook rental schemes are in place, where schools buy the books and rent or loan them out to students in return for a small fee or deposit. This means that teachers can be sure that there are enough copies for all their students.
Ms Bushnell believes a book rental scheme would help every family in Ireland and would reduce the unnecessary amount of money spent on new editions of schoolbooks each year.
Full Story: www.dublinpeople.com
Changes to school enrolment policy must protect the vulnerable – Deputy Seán Crowe [sinnfein.ie]
- Published: 15 June 2011
Sinn Féin’s Spokesperson on Education, Deputy Seán Crowe, has given a broad welcome to this week’s announcement by Minister Ruairí Quinn to changes in school enrolment policies.
Deputy Crowe said that the progressive changes contained in the Minister’s statement were welcome but Sinn Féin would exam the detail of what was being proposed before making any final decision.
He continued: “At the core of any changes to the current school enrolment policy must be the ending of the discriminatory enrolment practises that have been directed at certain children, particularly those with a learning difficulty or who have special needs.
“The Department’s primary focus must be in ensuring every school meets a minimum high standard so as they are able to deliver the educational needs of our young people regardless of their social or economic background. This means strategic investment and ring fencing funding for essential frontline services.
“It is also important that a balance is found between parental choice and the rights’ of all children to receive a decent education in an increasingly diverse Ireland.
“The TUI is correct in pointing out that some so called ‘elite’ schools have often flouted the Equality Legislation and actively discouraged students with special educational needs from attending their schools. They have been aided in this unethical practise by the Department who have usually turned a blind eye to what was happening.
Full Story: www.sinnfein.ie
