Category Archives: Education

Now You See It…

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If you’re anything like me, you love Derren Brown.  He’s a bit of a genius, illusionist, mentalist, clever and challenging.

He’s also a bit of a trickster.

He has one particular move I like, he gets the unsuspecting victim to willingly hand over his wallet.  Just like this:

Which brings me to this RTE headline yesterday.  On the face of it, things look great.  1,700 new teachers and SNAs (Special Needs Assistants) to be employed in Irish Schools.  All good, yes?

Well, as always, it’s a little more complicated.  While the headline does grab your attention, the details of the article take a lot of the shine away:

  • 10,000 new students entering primary level each year
  • 4,000 new students entering second level each year
  • The cost of college registration to increase.  Again.
  • The budget for new schools (needed for the extra numbers) is to be cut by €10,000,000
  • Funding for second level schools (Capitation, the grant per student in school) is being reduced again.  This time by 1%
  • Funding for third level colleges also to be reduced by 1%

That’s the new cuts.

There’s still no reverse on the reprehensible decision to remove guidance counsellors from secondary schools.  No decision to restore middle management in schools.

For years now the budget for education has been cut. The new posts in the headline don’t do anything to change the pupil/teacher ratio – it only maintains the current crazy level.  Schools have been forced to cut subjects, options, programmes and supports for students.

These are not cuts in education. They are attacks on education.

Minister Joan Burton was on Matt Cooper’s show a few weeks ago and said something like ‘Austerity is over’.

Austerity is not over.  Certainly not if you’re in education.  And just like Derren Brown, the government has managed to dip into the pocket of the education sector once more.

Lets discuss the Teaching Council

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I’m conflicted.

The Teaching Council is the body that is charged with overseeing the profession of teaching in Ireland.  So, you would imagine that I would be all in favour of this.  After all, I’m a School Chaplain.  I spend my working days in schools and I witness the professionalism of my colleagues on a daily basis.  I see their hard work, dedication, inspiration.  I should be glad of anything that promotes that professionalism and recognises the hard work of so many teachers.

The Teaching Council is tasked with protecting the integrity of teaching.  It regulates “the teaching profession and promotes professional standards in teaching”.  Why then are so many of us angry with it?

My first taste of disillusionment with the Teaching Council came a few years ago, when the attacks on education (AKA the austerity budgets) were slashing resources and pay across the sector.  Many teachers wrote to the council asking them to speak up on their behalf.  In response we got the response that the council was all for protecting standards, yes.  But had no role in budget discussions.  I never kept a copy of the letter, but I’d love to be able to show it to you.

As the past few years have advanced, the Teaching Council has flexed its muscles more and more.

First, teachers who didn’t pay the €65 per annum registration would not be paid by the Department of Education & Skills.  This became an open threat with this press release stating that over 1,000 teachers could lose their pay.

Then we hear that the council has the power to investigate teachers.  Have our registration fees added up to become a war chest?  On what basis would teachers be investigated?

Most recently, the idea was proposed that teachers would have to engage in CPD in order to maintain their registration.  Admittedly CPD is very, very important.  But when technology changes so fast, and there are so many different ways in which to learn, who decides what is valid CPD, and who certifies it?  My interaction on Monday evenings #edchatie over on the tweet machine is something that is incredibly valuable.  I have learnt a lot by looking at what so, so many other teachers do.

My fears are not new, and they are not unique to me.  Have  a look here and here to see others’ concerns regarding the Teaching Council.

One problem is that many teachers have no faith in the Teaching Council, or see it as irrelevant.  If you do a twitter search for #teaching council you get one screen of results.  One screen for a body that has been in existence since March 2006.

So what is to be done?

  1. Be more flexible in recognising qualifications.  Engineers are good, very good, at maths.  People who qualified as teachers in other countries are teachers.  Don’t make it impossible for them to register here.
  2. Look at the registration fee.  Currently the Teaching Council is running a surplus of millions of Euro.  Use it or don’t charge it.
  3. Provide more courses that people want to engage in (or need to engage in, or would benefit from engaging in)
  4. Talk to the DES about getting course days and subject association days covered for substitution.
  5. Trust teachers.  Allow teachers to work together to create their own CPD.  Online interactions are very fruitful, but difficult to quantify for certification purposes.
  6. Do more to engage with teachers and see what we want for the development of our profession. There is little engagement at the moment.
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Through The Cracks

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There has been a lot of talk in the media over the past few days about the crisis in the health system in Ireland.  Things are pretty grim.

According to the Irish Examiner, waiting lists have soared 968%.  In other words, if you are on a waiting list, you wait almost 10 times as long now to be seen.

And this is scary.  But it is not the full picture.

As a culture we are still hesitant to discuss mental health. As a result, we don’t get the full picture of the difficulties faced by so many people in crisis.

According to Aware, up to 10% of young people suffer from depression at any one time (my emphasis)

According to this document from the CSO, in 2005/2006 there were 335,134 students in second level education (see p.115)

If we put these numbers together, you have approximately 35,000 second level students suffering from depression at any given time.  I find this a very upsetting statistic.  Not just for the fact of the depression that the students are battling, but for the fact that we have so few resources to help the students in need.

Schools themselves have limited resources.  In an incredibly callous display of disregard for students, our former minister, Rurai Quinn removed guidance counsellors from schools.  (It remains to be seen whether our new minister, Jan O’Sullivan will reverse this decision)

I don’t want to give the impression that schools should be the place to fix these issues.  A school’s function is to educate students.  Schools are not places to treat issues around mental health, just as schools are not places to treat broken bones or other physical ailments.  Schools can run programmes to promote mental health, but if you’re sick – then you need a doctor.

However, just as schools can provide support for students with broken bones and other physical ailments, they are also places that can provide support for those in pain.

Or at least they could if they had the resources in place.  With all the staff cutbacks (especially that to guidance counsellors) schools are hard pressed to do all that is expected of them.

No.

More is needed in supporting our teenagers in trouble.

We do have some excellent groups in Ireland, for example:

  • Aware is working to help those suffering from depression.
  • Pieta House works to help those who are suffering from suicidal thoughts or deliberate self harm
  • Console helps those suffering, either because they are thinking of suicide, or because someone close to them has died by suicide.

But our health system is not able to cope.  We don’t have enough psychiatric beds to help those in serious pain.  Our social workers are understaffed and overworked.  Counselling via the health service has a huge waiting list.

In short, our mental health services are not serving our teenagers effectively.

It’s not just the teenagers who are left fall through the cracks.

In this article the Irish Times highlights that 554 people in Ireland died from suicide in 2011.  We all know families who have been devastated by the loss of someone they love.

As a society we need to do a lot more to look out for those around us.  We need to do a lot more to look out for those who fall through the cracks.

SIGNSnobleeds

The narrow focus of assessment

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You’ve probably all seen it this Summer.  The letter from Barrowford Primary School to a student where the school sets out to reassure the student that his results only reflected a small aspect of who his is.

Here’s the letter in full:

Letter to student

Many people have lauded the school and its approach.  But let’s look a little closer.

This letter is from a primary school, and the exams the student took were apparently for Key Stage 2.  According to Wikipedia, this stage assesses students in the age of 7 – 11.

I personally have a problem with this.  I understand the need to ensure students progress academically.  But formal exams for 7 year olds?  At what stage did we give up on childhood and adapt a utilitarian approach in all we do?  Maybe the children can get a day off occasionally to clean a chimney somewhere?

We rely on tests too much.  The education systems in England and Ireland seem to cry out for some sort of standardised assessment that will ensure the teachers are doing their job, and that we can measure students’ progress.

We have bought into a culture where our children are valued based on what they achieve.  Play for the sake of play is getting rarer and rarer.  You like sport? Join a team and train a few nights a week.  You like dancing, finish each term with a competition, where you may or may not EARN a medal.  And we, as parents, join in.

We miss the whole point that our kids have, each of them, unique and wonderful characteristics.  By excessively tying them down to a narrow focus, we risk blocking out a whole range of their creativity, their personality.

I like the image below:

test qualitiesImage from: http://www.edudemic.com/19-qualities-measured-tests/

So in the month and week following the release of the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate results respectively, we could do with looking at what we are actually doing to our children.

If we follow the English model, we will end up examining children from the age of 7, and keep this up until after they finish college.

This is punishing on all concerned: the student who may not achieve the results that others think he/she should; the parents worried that results should be better; and the teachers who worry about their own assessments.

In the year ahead the teacher unions in Ireland are going to challenge the Department of Education and Skills over the issue of assessment in the new Junior Cycle School Award.  Particularly contentious is the issue of in-school assessment.  Who does the assessment, and how is the assessing standardised.  (Who assesses the assessors?)

We need to open a very, very wide discussion on where we are going with education in Ireland.  Ultimately, what is the point of education, and what, really, are our aims at the different stages of childrens’ development.  And, of course, will we put the proper resources in place in order to ensure the best outcome (to use the lingo) for the whole education system.

 

Formerly Honourable

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Sometimes you just have to wonder what people are thinking when they talk about teenagers and what they get up to in schools.

In this article in the Avondhu newspaper in Fermoy from August 28th, it seems that a formor local councilor thinks that some arson attacks in the area will be solved once students get back to school.

“Maybe it’s because the schools are on holidays” he says.  Really, Cllr O’Donovan?  Just what does he think happens within the four walls of a school?  What does he actually think of young people?

Does he perhaps worry that teachers and other staff need stab-vests in school?  Is he hoping that we will install metal detectors and security guards?  Maybe the poor man has been watching too much dodgy telly.

It’s also possible that he hasn’t seen the inside of a school in a very long time and just doesn’t know what a challenging, interesting and rewarding place a school is.

No two days are the same, no two class groups are the same.  And just as the philosophers debated if the same river passes under a bridge, the group you meet today could generate a totally different dynamic tomorrow.

Schools are great places to be.  The chance to see students learn, develop, mature and go on to college or other walks of life is hugely satisfying.  And this all happens in the 21st century, not in some kind of Dickensian workhouse.

So whatever our formerly honourable councillor  was thinking, he was being thoroughly unfair to students and schools.

Utterances like this make me think it’s just as well that some of the councils were abolished this year.

Dear Joan, or Alex

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On July 4th the Labour Party will begin counting votes on who will get to be the new leader of the party. This will hopefully be a fairly straightforward and quick poll, and we will know who will lead the party from its worst electoral defeat.

Add to the new leadership in Labour is the likelihood that there will be a cabinet reshuffle during the Summer.  This, I once hoped would be a cause for joy, but I’m beginning to get a bit cynical now.

You see, Joan (or Alex), people who had previously believed that Labour would stand up for them are sadly disillusioned.  Cutbacks and austerity in health, education and social welfare are being touted as achievements.  Surely they are the exact opposite?  Labour ministers have led the charge to cut back in their own departments in the name of keeping the Troika happy, in the cause of shoring up the gambling debts of Ireland’s elite from the Tiger Era.  Is not keeping rich investors happy the very antithesis of what Labour stood for?

And here’s the thing.  The Troika recently called for the government to keep on track with a further 2 Billion Euro in cutbacks this year.  They announced this in the middle of your leadership campaign.  This, to me, is a clear signal as to who really calls the shots.

To take a note from Minister Quinn’s playbook, it seems that the Troika think Labour’s job is to consult on the cutbacks, not to negotiate them.  So I wonder how much will actually change.

From a teacher’s point of view, I used to hope that a cabinet re-shuffle would rid education of Ruairi Quinn, and that we would have a minister who would listen to teachers, rather than his own fabled advisers. I hoped that we could get a minister who would listen to concerns around Special Needs Provision, around concerns with the JCSA, around concerns with Pupil Teacher ratios; around management of schools, around the proper resourcing of education.  Now I doubt that much would actually change.  Yes, we may get a minster who talks a better talk, but I’m beginning to think that nothing will actually change.

You see, Joan, or Alex.  I think you have forgotten the marginalised in this country.  I think that you have forgotten about just how much hardship has been endured by normal people.

I really hope that I’m wrong.  I really hope that you heard the very clear message given by the Irish Electorate in May.  I really hope that you will finally realise that Austerity has run its course.  Ireland should not be just about balancing the books.  Ireland should also be about the quality of life of all its citizens.  More so for the most vulnerable among us.

Or, to quote Gandhi: “A nation’s greatness is measured by how it treats its weakest members.”

In very many cases recently Joan or Alex, we have failed this test of greatness.  What are you going to do about it?

 

 

A Clear Voice

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I was driving home last week and heard Liam Doran of the Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation debating with Matt Cooper.  Something struck me.  The nurses and midwives are very lucky to have such a well well spoken man to fight their cause.  Liam has the knack of taking whatever issues are important and presenting them in a clear way.  And that is a rare skill.  He has done a huge service to his profession in putting forward the nurses and midwives’ case.  This has served them very well in the public arena.

Unfortunately, I honestly don’t feel that we teachers are so lucky.  With all the attacks on education in the past 6 years, teachers have garnered little enough public sympathy for their cause.  There are a number of reasons why this may be the case:

  • The old joke of the three best reasons to be a teacher.
  • The perception that we clock off at 4.00 with a grand free evening ahead.
  • Everyone has an opinion about what teachers should be doing.
  • The perception that teaching is ‘chalk & talk’, that teachers are not innovators

Others can debate the validity (or not) of these reasons.  I’m more concerned with the fact that we, as a profession, have not countered these perceptions, that we have not been effective in the public sphere.

I think part of the explanation is the fragmentation of the teaching unions.

There are three Teachers’ Unions in Ireland

At the Easter Conferences of the Unions, it was mooted that the ASTI & the TUI should merge.  This idea makes a lot of sense for me, at least you would have one voice to speak with on behalf of second level.

However, a bigger problem, for me, is the fact we don’t have a publicly identifiable speaker who is as recognisable as Liam Doran.  While different presidents of all teaching unions have done well in their brief tenures, the nature of a presidency that lasts just a few years means that any president doesn’t build up the profile over time that Liam Doran has managed to do.

And what can we do about the profile of our unions or officers?

Maybe the merger of the ASTI and the TUI is a good first step, but I think we need to go a bit further than that.

  • I think that such a merger should bring a new General Secretary, one who is able to put educational issues across in a clear manner
  • The Union(s) need to adapt a more proactive stance with regards to the media.  Much of what they currently publish is legalistic, or a counter-argument to what the Minister is saying.  This doesn’t work very well.  It’s a tennis match where the other guy gets to serve all the time.
  • We could do with looking at how teachers use social media.  There is a hunger out there for debate (of the 10 top viewed posts in this blog, 9 are about education)
  • We need to increase public awareness of the challenges in teaching

The Unions have a huge job to do, but I think they need to step back and examine how they have been doing it so far.  The strategy is flawed and needs to be revised.  Otherwise the attacks by this government and its minister will continue.

A Leaving Cert’s Farewell

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On Monday last we had hour Leaving Cert graduation ceremony.  During this, one of our departing students, Mark de Lacy, gave the best speech that I’ve heard yet from a student.

He has kindly given permission for me to reproduce it here.  I hope you enjoy it.  The words are nice, but his delivery was astounding.

John.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, Parents, Teachers and My Fellow Students,

Good afternoon. I fear that this may drag on a bit but what I have to say needs to be said. And I’m a little nervous so bear with me.

It’s hard to put into words, these last six years. It’s not easily summarized through the English language – through these pages [show pages]. I have been given an impossible task. I’ve been asked to give a voice for others. Being a student in Mayfield Community School, being one of our forty, means different things to all of us. I am not capable of speaking for everyone as I am tasked. I would never want to speak for everyone. In this moment, I can only speak for myself, and I will do it to the best of my ability, but in speaking for myself I want to show to all of you how much this school has meant to me – still means to me. If you can understand the impact this school, this amazing place, has had on me, could you imagine the other thirty-nine impacts it has had on everyone else?

Mayfield Community School is my favourite place in the world. This building, these people – you – are so dear to me.  As I stand here and look out, as I see all these familiar faces, as I breathe in the air, it just feels perfect. I genuinely couldn’t imagine it any different. I’m sure we’re all aware that there is a perception held by a lot of people out there about Mayfield Community School – a false perception. Those people that hold are simply ignorant to the truth. They don’t know what it’s like here. They don’t know what it’s like to walk in the doors of this school in the morning and know that you’re going to have a good day. They don’t know what it’s like to have all your friends around you, all the time. They don’t know what makes this place this special, because this place is special and there a lot of people to thank for making it so.

Firstly I would like to thank the teachers and the staff. When I envisioned this speech I thought, “How can I show just how much I appreciate these people? How can I convey how influential they’ve been, not only in my school life but in everyone else’s too?” And the truth is I can’t. What has gone before is simply too much for me to capture with this speech. I can’t do it, just like how I can’t speak for everybody else. And so, to that end, I’m going to need a little help from my friends. Please welcome some of my friends on stage, because we’ve all got something to say.

TEACHER COMMENTS

(At this point Mark spoke directly to a number of teachers thanking them.  Other students came up and between them they mentioned EVERY staff member in the school. The name of teachers are omitted here so as to ensure we don’t accidentally omit anyone)

I wanted those things to be read out because you need to know how much we all appreciate all you. You need to know the position you hold in this school – your importance. Especially our teachers, you need to know these things for the benefit of those who will follow behind us, for you are much more than mere teachers of academics. Quite recently, one of you helped me realise something very important. I was in the computer room and our PE teacher, walked in with a few fourth years and put them to work. “Work?” I joked, “You’re hardly going to teach them sir, are you? Sure you can’t teach, can you?” And then from his utterly ridiculous accent I garnered some very important sentiment, “Mark, you see, I’m not just a school teacher – I’m a teacher of life.” A teacher of life. That is exactly what he is – what all of you are. I have learned things from you that won’t appear on any Leaving Cert paper but that will be important in what matters, in the real world. I often get asked, “Who do you look up to most?” and the answer is you guys. You are self-made men and women, good, genuine people – Mayfield people. You are role models to us all – you’re my heroes. Thank you so much.

I would also like to thank the parents – all the beautiful faces. You put us in the position to succeed. You put clothes on our backs, you put food on the tables and you show unworldly selflessness every single day. You’d give everything to see us prosper even if we disappoint you from time to time.  Your effort is monumental, your sacrifice beyond comprehension – yet it mostly goes untold. But, I’m telling you now we appreciate everything you do for us. Sometimes we can’t express it like we want to but we know all that you do for us and we cherish it. Thank you so much.

And finally, I would like to thank ourselves – the students. Six years, what a journey. Some have come and some have gone but through it all we’ve always had fun together. It’s hard to talk about memories because we all have so many that are individual to ourselves but I just want to say how great being part of this group has been.  Just knowing these people has been awesome. Just being around these people is a privilege. My best friends are sitting in this room and I’ve gotten to hang around with them for hours upon hours each day for six years. It’s made me feel like the luckiest guy in the world. Coming in every morning and knowing that you’re welcomed by the group, by the individuals, knowing that you can have a joke or a chat with anyone – just being comfortable –that’s a great feeling. There are some examples in our year that I believe represent us as a whole.

 

Darren O’ Brien. I know he is hating that I’m singling him out but I need to do it. If I walk up to Darren at any time in the day and throw a random Game of Thrones quote at him you can just see the excitement erupt in him so that his head looks like it will explode. And that’s what makes him great, and it’s kind of the same with everyone. We all have something in common to talk about, to get excited about. There are so many good people in this group – honest, kind people. But there’s more to Darren. Last week Darren got a place on a Performing Arts course for next year – he’s going to act. In general Darren is one of the quietest among us, but on Friday he performed in class. As he stood there, and spoke the words of Denzel Washington, I was awestruck. I was overjoyed. I was as proud as I’ve ever been. Darren, you’re the nicest person within these walls. And you’re the person I’d like to see do well the most because you deserve it, you’re meant for something special, Darren – you’re meant to act. You inspire me. Seeing you chase your dream and taking steps towards making it a reality makes me want to chase my dreams. But Darren epitomizes us all -we’re meant for something special.

Demi O’ Sullivan. Around Christmas time, out of the pure kindness of her heart, she decided to give less fortunate than her. Basically on her own she ran a shoebox campaign for poor kids in far flung places. She didn’t do it for attention or to make herself look good, she did because she’s a good person – a selfless person. She is inspiring. Once again this group is full of these types of people – nice people.

Rose Butler. Not many ordinary people experience the hardship she’s had to in regards to her health. Yet even less people could come to school like she does in such a positive frame of mind. She’s always friendly, cheerful, kind. She’s never beaten – she’s always defiant. That is inspiring.

Christopher McCarthy. We played football together for years; we’ve gone to school together for longer. In that time I’ve never known someone to be more dedicated and hardworking. There were times this year with the school team, when I’d look at you and just think, “He’s going to put himself into an early grave”. The way you worked, even though you didn’t have to, was shocking. He played for Ireland this year and nobody is more deserving. I was so proud of you for it, because I’d seen it unfold. I’d seen the hard work pay off. You inspire me to work harder every day at what I’m good at, so that I can succeed as well.

We’re full of surprises, we’re full of kindness and joy – we’re good people. Everyday you guys inspire to do better, you inspire me to be a good person, even it’s easier to be a bad one. You’ve all made this the best six years a young boy could dream of. Thank you all so much.

For a long time I thought I’d be the one to give this speech. And I thought I’d give a speech that was becoming of such an experience. I don’t know if I’ve achieved that. I wrote most of this speech a week ago, but speeches aren’t read out from a page, they’re given from the heart. I couldn’t predict how I’d feel now when I wrote this so I’ll try to tell you now, in this moment.

TALK ABOUT THE MOMENT, HOW YOU FEEL.

 

I think the poem “Invictus” by William Ernest Henley is fitting in this context.

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

 

 

 

This is no place of wrath and tears – it’s one of happiness and smiles. But we are the masters of our fates. We are the captains of our souls. We can do whatever we want to do, we can become whatever we wish to become. Because we’re from Mayfield Community School, where amazing happens. We are the bais from the Munt. Six years, I’ll remember them forever. This school defines me now. And I hope this school defines me forever.  This school has given us everything. And now we have the chance to use. But first – let’s get locked.

Thanks for listening.

First Communion & Our Primary Schools

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Let me tell you a story, it’s a sad story, so please don’t laugh…

There was this little school where all the children got on well. All the boys & girls were well prepped and worked towards getting ready for their First Holy Communion.

The day arrived and the class assembled in church, going over their moves when the teacher noticed that little Mary was missing.  Mary never missed a day so the teacher got worried and she phoned Mary’s family.

“No problem,” they said “we got held up at the hairdressers so we’re going to skip the church and go straight to the hotel”.

I believe that First Communion in this country has gone in the wrong direction.   I first heard the above as an urban legend, but it has an air of possibility about it.  And that, for me, is sad.  First Communions and Confirmations are happening all over the country at the moment, and the commentary isn’t far behind.  Last year I remember Matt Cooper interviewing the owner of a Limo business who put in a policy that he wouldn’t accept First Communion bookings.  Why was the policy even needed in the first place?

A little context, First Communion is what is termed a ‘Sacrament of initiation’.  There are three of them: Baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist (Communion).  The idea is that a child on having taken part in all three sacraments will be a full member of the Catholic Church.  Very early in the Church’s history the three were separated out.

Funnily enough, in the modern world, they are not always separated.  A convert to Catholicism will receive all three in one go (in a rite called RCIA), and in the Orthodox church, all three also happen in one go.

Due to the Church having such an integral role historically in our primary schools we have a situation where the school is the place where children learn about, and are prepared for, the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation.  The sacraments have become rites of passage where the emphasis has moved towards the finery and the money spent rather than on the sacrament itself.

I’m against this.  Yes, make a big deal out of a sacrament if you want, but since when should 8 year old girls be worried about a dress costing €200 or more?  Since when should they have fake tan?  Since when is the contest in school later about how much money in gifts they got?

I think that I may agree with Ruairi Quinn on something.  <did I just say that?>

Like him, I think that it would be a good idea to take some of the preparation for communion out of the school.  Instruction in Religion could still happen in school, but move the responsibility for the sacramental preparation to the parish.

This has started in some places.  In my own parish children and their families attend a series of masses in preparation for their own Communion.  A group of parents meet on a regular basis to plan and prepare.  The links in the community are strengthened and those who choose to be part of the Church deepen their understanding.

Make communion something that a family, that a child has to opt into in their own time and you will very quickly find out the ones who actually want to be involved for what it is – part of the journey in the Christian Faith.

Things can’t change fast enough for me.  One of my daughters will receive her First Communion next year, and I would far prefer her to wear a pretty dress and not worry about the hype than be dressed in a miniature wedding dress and comparing hair-dos.

Lets put away the farce of Fake Tans and the Limos.  Let First Communion be for those who want to take part. Do away with the crap that has built up around it.

 

Emer O’Kelly Rebuttal

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The following was written by Mairéad De Búrca in reply to Emer O’Kelly’s article in the Irish Independent. 

I’d like to thank Mairéad for giving me permission to publish her letter here.

John.

 

I am pleased that the Sindo published my response to Emer O’ Kelly’s unwarranted attack on teachers. However, my letter was edited to remove many criticisms of EOK’s article. I will copy the published letter and then my original letter to show you what I mean. To get the full picture, you should read her article first http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/ruairi-quinn-should-teach-these-wolves-a-lesson-30221231.html

My letter is a point by point rebuttal of her piece.

Published Letter –

MINISTER HAS DONE NOTHING BUT CUT

Madam – Well done to Emer O’Kelly and the Sunday Independent for once again writing hateful bile about teachers. (Sunday Independent, April 27, 2014).

Teachers most certainly do not earn €60k on average per year. The ministers she praises earn multiples of a teacher’s salary and get tax-free expenses and perks. Why not attack them? Teachers pay into their pensions every week for 40 years. Teachers do not have jobs for life. Teachers can be, and are, dismissed. Thousands of teachers have no jobs at all.

The minister is destroying our education system. Teachers try to point this out when they can. Teachers have a duty to point this out. Journalists have this duty too. Minister Quinn is about as far away from being a socialist or a trade unionist as Emer O’Kelly is. He attended private schools. He sent his children to private schools.

He most certainly is not the best Minister for Education, since anybody! He has actually done nothing during his tenure except cut, cut, cut, speak to the media, cut, cut, cut, spin, spin, spin. He is arguably the worst Minister for Education I have ever encountered. He has failed utterly in his oft-stated intention to wrest the control of education away from religious denominations. It is disconcerting that Ms O’Kelly views this complete failure of his as a success.

This minister has not only failed the education system, he has failed Ireland’s children. Of course teachers must call him on that, especially if journalists like Emer O’Kelly fail to do so. I stopped buying the Sindo years ago due to the astounding amount of teacher-bashing in it.

Dr Mairead De Burca,

The full text of my Letter:

Madam,

Well done to Emer O’ Kelly and the Sindo for keeping up your long tradition of poor journalism. Emer, you get 10/10 for writing hateful bile about teachers once again. 10/10 also for not bothering with actual facts. 0/10 however, for accuracy, objectivity, research and journalism, so that’s a FAIL, Emer. Here is a critique of your latest “work”, point by point:

1. Teachers most certainly do not earn 60K on average per year. The Ministers you praise in your article, however, earn multiples of a teacher’s salary and get un-vouched, tax free expenses and perks also. Why don’t you attack them?

2. Teachers pay into their pensions every week for forty years. Ruairi does not. What do you say to him?

3. Teachers do not have jobs for life. Teachers can and are dismissed. Thousands of teachers have no jobs at all.

4. On what basis do you describe the ASTI as the “cream level” of teachers?

5. The Minister in charge of Education is destroying our education system. Teachers try to point this out when they can. Teachers have a duty to point this out. Journalists have this duty too.

6. Minister Quinn is about as far away from being a socialist or a trade unionist as you are, Emer. He attended private schools. He sent his children to private schools. He earns an enormous salary. People call him a champagne socialist. I call him a capitalist.

7. Dignity and grace are not words I would use about Minister Quinn. He spins statistics without grace or dignity to make himself look good. He cuts educational supports to our children without grace or dignity.

8. He most certainly is not the best Minister for Education, since anybody! He has actually done nothing during his tenure except cut, cut, cut, speak to the media, cut, cut, cut, spin, spin, spin….. He is arguably the worst Minister for Education I have ever encountered.

9. I have never heard Minister Quinn tell the truth, as you claim. He spins statistics and reads speeches prepared for him by his many, very well-paid advisors.

10. It is the Minister who continuously self-congratulates himself. He thinks he’s doing a great job, and tells teachers this all the time.

11. He veers between saying our teachers are the best in the world to saying they are not. Make your mind up, Minister.

12. He has failed utterly in his oft-stated intention to wrest the control of education away from Religious denominations. It is disconcerting that you view this complete failure of his as a success, Emer.

13. This Minister has not only failed the education system, he has failed Ireland’s children. Of course teachers must call him on that, especially if journalists like you fail to do so, Emer.

14. As regards the Honours Maths and anti-women gaffs which this man “mis-spoke” in front of INTO members… Emer, please stop trying to defend the indefensible. He, himself, knows he made a mistake saying what he said. The whole country knows it, except you.

15. Andrew Phelan of ASTI has explained his actions very thoroughly on his FB page. Why didn’t you read what he had to say while you researched your own piece, Emer? O that’s right, sorry, I forgot that you don’t “do” research.

16. The new Junior Cycle is under-funded, under-resourced and unplanned. You think that’s good, do you, Emer? Teachers do not. Parents do not.

17. Teachers are the greatest advocates for children and young adults in this country, Emer. You are not. Minister Quinn is not. You could use your position as a journalist to help teachers to advocate for children, Emer.

18. You advise Minister Quinn to emulate Minister Shatter? Really? Do you really believe that anyone should emulate Minister Shatter given the scandals in his Department?

Emer, the least you could do would be to check out a few facts, do a bit of work, before you sit down to your keyboard. I stopped buying the Sindo years ago due to the astounding amount of teacher-bashing in it.

If we have learned anything last week, and again today in the Sindo, it is that some newspapers attract entirely the wrong kind of people into “journalism”.

Yours Etc…

Dr. Mairéad De Búrca.