If I were the Minister for Education...

Here is my project to suggest ways for our education system to be the best it can be. I have a few ideas, which I’d love help fleshing out.

*UPDATE – December 2019*

I have been co-opted to the Board of Directors of the IPPN. I am unable to continue this podcast while in this position. 

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*ANNOUNCEMENT*

I'm very happy to announce that I have been co-opted to the Board of Directors of the IPPN. I have been on the IPPN National Council for over 10 years and I am grateful for the nomination to this new position. #edchatie

As you might appreciate, I will be unable to continue my weekly podcast on this page. I will however revert back to supporting teachers and principals with educational technology advice. I have also removed myself as a director of Mash.ie, though the business will otherwise continue as normal. I will also not be acting on behalf of any other organisation while a member of the IPPN board which might create a conflict of interest.

If you do comment, please be mindful that I will have to remove anything that could be perceived as problematic for me. I am looking forward to working this new role.

Thank you all so much for all your support and kindness ... See MoreSee Less

1 month ago

*ANNOUNCEMENT* Im very happy to announce that I have been co-opted to the Board of Directors of the IPPN. I have been on the IPPN National Council for over 10 years and I am grateful for the nomination to this new position. #edchatie As you might appreciate, I will be unable to continue my weekly podcast on this page. I will however revert back to supporting teachers and principals with educational technology advice. I have also removed myself as a director of Mash.ie, though the business will otherwise continue as normal. I will also not be acting on behalf of any other organisation while a member of the IPPN board which might create a conflict of interest. If you do comment, please be mindful that I will have to remove anything that could be perceived as problematic for me. I am looking forward to working this new role. Thank you all so much for all your support and kindness
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Congratulation Simon in your new role.

Great news. Big congratulations Simon. Well deserved, you’ll be excellent in the role.

Best of luck! Thanks for some great podcasts in the past - will look forward to hearing them again at some stage!

Congratulations and thank you for all you've done for Irish Education and Educators thus far Simon. Best of luck in your new role. Excellent man for the job!

Simon, wishing you the very best of luck. So wonderful to see someone of your calibre on the Board of Directors. They (and we!) are extremely lucky to have you.

Fantastic news Simon, congratulations! Your input will be great and I hope you really enjoy it!

Congratulations, and the best of luck in the future. Thanks for casting a clear light on education issues.

Congratulations Simon. Wonderful news for principals and schools across the country.

Congrats Simon. Best of luck in your new position.

Congrats Simon - super news for IPPN and principals. The podcast will be missed though.

Best of luck Simon!! Hope you love your new role!

Congratulations Simon. Very well deserved!!

Well deserved and you will bring a lot to the table. Good news indeed.

Hopefully you can continue the discussions on your new role. Best wishes

Wishing you every success with your appointment Simon.

Congrats and well done Simon !

Delighted to hear this news !!

Congratulations Simon

Congratulations

Congratulations Simon!

The many non-principals here will definitely miss you, your podcasts and your comments

Comhghairdeas Simon agus go n-éirí go geal leat i do ról nua. Tairbheoidh IPPN go mór as d'ionchuir. Go n-éirí ádh leat.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Fantastic news. Go raibh maith agat do chuile rud

Simon, the very best of luck. They are very lucky indeed to be getting someone with your forthright views and genuine care for the future of education in this country.

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Don't we technically have a "Full Inclusion Model" in Ireland already? #edchatie

I've been thinking a little more about the Full Inclusion Model that's being proposed and it came to me that we already have this model in Ireland, in a way.

Right now, parents have the right to send their child into any type of setting that they want. They also have a right for their child to be supported if they have additional needs through the NCSE. So, let's say I have a kid with moderate additional needs, I can send him into my local school if I want and expect him to get the supports he needs from the school and the NCSE. There is actually nothing stopping me from doing this.

Following this logic, we have to ask the question as to why parents are not sending their child into this mainstream setting, and are choosing a special class or a special school setting.

There aren't going to be any further supports provided to every single school in the country - we've already been told this.

The way I'm seeing things is that we already have the structures in place for a full inclusion model (and there are some parents that are choosing this) except that parents also have the right to choose special classes/special schools. From what I am seeing, the only change that the NCSE is proposing is closing these options to parents. ... See MoreSee Less

2 months ago

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There are a number of us that have tried the mainstream setting for our children with ASD many choose the mainstream setting due to the lack of ASD classes. A number of children are struggling in the mainstream setting and need the extra support/expertise of an ASD Special Class. These are children that have psychological recommendations for an ASD Class. While the Dept of Ed and the NCSE discuss SEN policies what about our children? #involve_d6_d6w www.facebook.com/groups/1020796328077057/

Perhaps there are some schools with adequate supports and resources, but realistically they are not in every school in the country. Small rural schools are completely under resourced, often with high pupil numbers in multi-grade classes. The Continuum of Support came in without any proper supports or training. SEN teachers are now being expected to carry out diagnostic tests instead of NEPS. My son with complex needs had been in mainstream primary but I shuddered to think of him in mainstream secondary and thankfully he got a place in a special school. He wasn’t even granted access to an SNA in our local mainstream secondary, so no, I don’t think the supports are there for our children.

Maura Jennings

www.facebook.com/groups/297815154147063/ Dublin 12 children are been failed all because the Ncse & department have no clue, its the parents & schools they need to liase with but while they gather there data , its our children who fall through the cracks.

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