Victoria White: Dreading saying that final goodbye to the sisterhood of the school gate [Herald.ie]
- Published: 09 June 2011
We're into the last three weeks of the primary school term and all the bets are off. The kids are driven mad by the endless daylight. They really can't hack school anymore.
They can smell the summer and they want it bad.
But there's a group of mothers in my school who are very quiet. They're about to lose the structure of their days and a lot of their social life because their last kid is leaving national school.
GRACE
I have a child who's leaving too, but I have two more to go so I have a few years' grace. But many of the sixth class mothers are into their last three weeks of gossip at the school gate.
"I just can't deal with it," said one friend. Forget the past pupils' union, she's planning get-togethers and social activities in the school for the ex-mammies.
"The kids go on to other schools and they'll probably forget all about their national school. We won't," she says.
Full Story: www.herald.ie
Minister focused on returning Ireland to top 10 in education table [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 08 June 2011
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has reiterated his department's focus on ensuring that standards of English and Maths among secondary school pupils are among the best in the world.
Last year, a report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) found there had been a dramatic decline in standards in these subjects since 2000, with the nation dropping from fifth to 17th in English and 16th to 25th in Maths, the Irish Times reports.
However, the exam board dismissed the suggestion that standards have fallen in Ireland, with the minister instead suggesting that the OECD report showed other nations have "dramatically improved".
He added he would be launching a national literacy campaign this month to try and restore Ireland's position among the world's best education systems.
"Part of declared policy in the programme for government is that we're going to get back into the top ten, not just for literacy, but for numeracy and scientific matters as well," Mr Quinn said.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Exam Diary: The notes are read and the prayers have been said [Independent.ie]
- Published: 08 June 2011
BY now, the notes have been read, and the prayers have been said. It's time to kick off.
More than 55,000 Leaving Cert students begin exams today. About 50 different subjects will be tested over the next two and a half weeks. And there will be 350,000 grades in all, handed down by about 2,800 examiners.
However, to each Leaving Cert student today those numbers mean little. They are focussed on their own paper, their own emotions, as they begin with English Paper 1 and home economics.
All of the radio stations yesterday were giving advice to students and parents. They told us not to stress out too much, to try and keep calm.
They are of course right, but keeping calm is easier said than done.
I have just one exam today -- English Paper 1. It is a paper that is very difficult to prepare for.
It consists of three comprehensions, where students answer a question A followed by a question B, which demands a more creative style of writing. Students must then do an essay.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
In My Opinion: Parents need to get involved in learning activities at home [Independent.ie]
- Published: 08 June 2011
How can parents help their children get the best outcomes from their education? Is it the parents' job, or is it the school's?
What are the factors that mean that some children do well in the education system and some struggle? Are there factors that parents can influence?
Educational disadvantage is defined in the 1998 Education Act as: "...the impediments to education arising from social or economic disadvantage which prevents students from deriving appropriate benefit from education in schools."
This sounds reasonable I hear you say, and most would agree that often children who don't achieve good educational outcomes have impediments to education arising from social or economic disadvantage.
The question is, though: is this social or economic disadvantage the main reason for students not deriving appropriate benefit from education, is it one of a range of reasons, or is it just a coincidence.
So what does the research say? Research suggests that parental involvement in a child's learning has more of an impact on a child's educational outcomes than social class, level of parental education or income.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Staff Only: Gone are the days of a common general knowledge [Independent.ie]
- Published: 08 June 2011
Every now and then I am astounded by the level of ignorance that my pupils display. Now, I know this is purely subjective, as what I'm really astounded by is the level of ignorance about the things I know, but surely there are words, places and people that everybody knows.
All in the matter of a few days a group of fifth years shocked me with the uncomprehending stares, behind which lurk minds landscaped by laconic tumbleweed in a windblown desert.
On Monday they tell me they have never heard of Napoleon Bonaparte.
On Wednesday they shake their heads doubtfully when I mention the English Channel.
I point to the huge map of Mother Europe on the wall. No, never seen that little sleeve of water before.
"Look! England's very close to France down there.
"That's Kent and when you take the ferry from Dover you can actually see France as soon as you leave the harbour."
Can't be right, they retort. I assure them that it is.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
