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If I were the Minister for Education...
How many times have you said to yourself, “If I were the Minister for Education…?” Well I do! Rather than grumble to myself, I decided to podcast my thoughts on ways I’d change the primary education system in Ireland.
Featured Episode: Thank you, Racists
In the final part of our chat, Conor and I discuss the INTO’s support of the LGBT+ community. We talk about schools that raise the Pride Flag but do nothing more and then we talk about some resources that teachers could use in the classroom without “undermining” the ethos (not my words!) Finally, Conor tells...
It’s not often you’ll hear me speechless but in this part of my interview with Conor Bredin, he speaks about his experience of being a gay teacher in Ireland. For anyone that thinks working in the Catholic system is no harm, needs to listen to this. Conor gives his thoughts on this issue and sums...
In this 3-part episode, I interview Conor Bredin – teacher, podcaster and author. Conor will be well known to anyone who was at the 2022 INTO Congress where he received a standing ovation for telling his experience of being a gay teacher in Ireland. However, Conor wears many hats and in this part I learn...
Forgive the paraphrased Father Ted quote but it’s probably appropriate after reading Emma O’Kelly’s excellent article: “Bishops sought ‘commitment’ on priority for Catholic children in schools” https://www.rte.ie/news/2022/0609/1303940-catholic-schools/ I read through this article attempting to give further context and background, as well as cringe through the astounding arrogance shown by the parties involved. {{where-to-listen}}
This week (May 31st) the SNA allocations were released to primary schools. It had been promised that a new frontloading model was to be used but for a third year in a row, school allocations were frozen. In this episode, I examine: why the representative bodies rarely, if ever, publicly condemn the NCSE why the...
One thing that binds us all together is our planet, and it would seem surprising if teachers around the country wouldn’t be worried about the impending climate crisis. I was thrilled to be joined by Mary Moore and Laura Ní Mhaille from the Irish Schools Sustainability Network to discuss how teachers can help. We got...
Probably my own claim to fame was that I once represented Ireland in the Olympics playing chess. And before you go googling, it was 1993 and it was the Jewish Olympics and I was 14. While I stopped playing seriously I’ve always loved the game so I was delighted to meet with Damien Fallon and...
Every May in Ireland, newspapers, magazines and radio shows are full of talk about Communion Season, as it seems collectively to be known. And during Communion Season, (I dislike that term), you hear lots of talk about getting the house painted and decorated, you hear a lot about dinner plans in hotels, you hear a...
In September 2022, Nenagh will become the town with the first “thriving” school to reconfigure to the ETB and change from being a Catholic School to being a Community National School. John Gunnell is currently the principal of St. Mary’s Junior Boys’ National School, soon to be Nenagh CNS. I’ve covered the politics behind the...
I hate to bring the C word up again, especially so soon after we seemed, as a nation, to decide that COVID19 was all over and we could start shaking hands, giving each other hugs and having bonfires fuelled by hand sanitiser! Actually, I’m joking about the last bit – don’t try it, kids. While...