“INAPPROPRIATE” FOR TEACHERS TO BEFRIEND PUPILS ON FACEBOOK – QUINN

Is this not obvious? – Lee Marvin, thejournal.ie

If it's done in an open manner, where the parents and principal know about it, what the hell is wrong with a teacher using social media. If a child was feeling the pressure of bullies they are more likely to tell a teacher that they perceive as a friend. Obviously the teacher would have to be very careful what they put up on a social network site and what they say to the student, but this is what they do in a classroom. At least on a social network site it can all be traced and monitored. – Jay Funk, thejournal.ie

Totally inappropriate for a teacher to befriend a pupil on any social networking site in a personal capacity. I think there is a difference in say a teacher setting up a subject-specific page/blog/etc where students can chat to each other or get extra resources for their subject. In no way should a teacher be sending text messages to students. – E, thejournal.ie

Not to mention that besides it being inappropriate, befriending pupils online could leave teachers vulnerable to malicious accusations. I've no problem with the internet or even Facebook being used for furthering the curriculum. – Sarah Hearns, thejournal.ie

USI CONFERENCE 2012

If USI end up taking the cop out of adopting any position other than 100 per cent free education, the organisation will no longer have a reason to exist. – Seán Allen, thejournal.ie

Its their job to represent students, not get students as much free stuff as is humanely possible. That's like saying that if ASTI isn't fighting for higher teachers' wages then they may as well disband. – Brendan Williamson, thejournal.ie

USI leadership now seems to believe that the ranking table is more important that free education. So, who has been getting to the USI leadership? – Seán Ó Sé, thejournal.ie

The Great Wall of China and my hangover. Two man-made structures visible from space. – @NUIG_Speedball

Students tweeting about being hungover and they wonder why so many think SUs are a joke? -@ConorReidy

Fantastic motion passed on the merging of HEI’s. Definitely where the future of third level education lies. – yanb921

PISA CONCLUSIONS – IS EDUCATION IN IRELAND BROKEN?

We had increased educational spending by 83 per cent in the last few years but where are the improved results and why are we slipping down the world rankings? Would it be fair to say that the unions and the bureaucracy at the heart of our educational system have no appetite for reform? – King Cash, politics.ie

To say the system is completely broken is a gross exaggeration. I bet one would find social problems with those being called illiterate, with their home environments being as much, if not more, to blame. – Household_charged, politics.ie

We need to be at the top of the rankings to build our economy. – An-Óg-Laoch, politics.ie