Chatterbox

What’s the talk of education?

Cuts in support for fee paying schools

When we look at the facilities available to pupils in private schools we should be saying "I want that for my child". We should be working and striving to get an improvement in the standards of facilities in public schools. Instead what we see in all the arguments against private schools is a desire to bring them down to the level of the public schools. Instead of bringing private schools down, wouldn't we be better bringing public schools up. Every pupil deserves to have smaller classes, access to sports fields, and whatever else. – Bactrian, politics.ie

Funny how it's mainly south Dublin parents "forced" to send kids to private schools. #wenttoafreeprotestantschoolmyself @evannac

If 50 per cent of kids currently educated in fee-paying schools move to non-fee education, the State saves €28 million a year. A net loss takes place only if 65 per cent of kids move to the no-fee sector.

[ politics.ie ]

Those who support the State maintaining the present two-tier system – State schools and State-funded private schools for the wealthy and their proteges – will always seek to make the argument that there is some kind of cost saving to be made from maintaining such a system, by referring to the budget accounts for each given year. But what is the social cost of the State maintaining such a system? Answer: a society in which entrenched privilege appears as a fact of nature and democracy is systematically undermined.

[ journal.ie ]

This entire topic is more spin to create divide and distractions for the Government looking to saving a few million, in reality costing the State more in the long run.

[ thejournal.ie ]

Why should I have my dole payments cut to keep rich people in rich schools? Why should my children's back-to-school allowance be cut to keep rich, hat-wearing snobs in rich schools? – Doley, politics.ie

I presume you're also relying on the rich kids to pay enough tax to keep you and your family going. – Fides, politics.ie

If there was a proper secular schools system, there wouldn’t be as much of a need for these schools. Until the Catholic Church hands over (at least) the vast majority of the schools it controls to the State, parents from other religious backgrounds will feel the need to send their children to these private schools.

[ thejournal.ie ]

No one has a right to religious education at the expense of the state.

[ thejournal.ie ]

THE VALUE OF THE JUNIOR CERT

I just used a To Kill A Mockingbird quote in actual conversation. Dont let anyone ever tell you the Junior Cert is pointless.

– @RobynBrowne, Twitter

Maybe the new Junior Cert will address a more individual style of learning? It wants to emphasise key skills rather than teaching to the exam. Students will theoretically do more of the thinking themselves and have less spoonfeeding.

[ boards.ie ]