What's the talk of education
TEACHERS ‘NOT PRODUCTIVE ENOUGH’?
In a recent interview Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn, commenting on Colm O'Rourke's remarks that teachers' pay should be cut, said: "We've reduced entry teachers' pay by 15 per cent plus – they're not overpaid. But still, they could be more productive; we could get greater outcomes from them." He provides no evidence for his opinion that teachers are not productive enough. What exactly are these "greater outcomes" he believes we could get? – davidcameron, politics.ie
They are not producing the results. Simple. This has been argued to death, and the general consensus is that primary-school teachers in particular are overpaid, underworked and not cutting it – so much so that we have had to bring in a numeracy and literacy programme, for crying out loud. Secondary-school teachers are far more respected in the main, and are not overpaid. – cuiseogach, politics.ie
It never ceases to amaze me how many people believe a primary teacher should be teaching children to read. They can help and they can identify kids who need help – but sit down with 30 kids of varying abilities and start from scratch? No chance. Anyone who thinks their kids will be taught to read in school isn't fit to be a parent. It's your job. – bungo, politics.ie
FAILURE TO REPORT CHILD SEX ABUSE TO BE CRIMINAL OFFENCE
Any sports club, society or voluntary organisation (including schools) that works with children could be shut down if it fails to implement new child-protection guidelines. Ireland passes legislation that broadens abuse-reporting laws. Child protection is everyone’s responsibility. @MosacMoms
Finally, after 20 years of reports into mishandling of abuse, we have a Bill to change the face of child protection.@carlobrien
So failure to report child sex abuse is to be made a criminal offence. About effing time. @drrrop
How is this not law already?@josephdelany
FOLENS’ EBOOK APP MAY MEAN AN END TO HEAVY SCHOOLBAGS
If a child drops a book it's okay. If a child drops an iPad it's €500. Children will be children. – Conor O'Neill, thejournal.ie
To fly the flag: my son in first year has a locker. His bag is still dreadfully heavy. In fact, he weighed it one day: 20kg. They usually get homework in more than one or two subjects. I would switch him to ebooks in a heartbeat if it was an option. They have made PDFs of one or two books, but not all. As my son cycles 2km each day with this massive weight to carry, I definitely worry for his back. – Emer Walsh Roy, thejournal.ie
Kids do not just carry heavy bags. Look at the way they carry them! It is cool to have the straps extended so that the bags hang near the backside. The damage to the spine and postural problems are huge. As a teacher I have corrected this so many times, but when out of sight they revert to "cool". You have to take the reduced costs of the ebooks into account, too. The iPad should also last them for years, and they are very robust. – Dave Phelan, thejournal.ie
What's wrong with a heavy bag? A bit of extra weight training does no harm. Might even give you an advantage on the football pitch. If you carry around a heavy bag all day, a high shoulder from a left half back will be no bother to you.– Conor Conneally, thejournal.ie
