The NCCA are doing some interesting work in the background trying to restructure the curriculum given the number of demands on our time. Everyone knows that it’s impossible to fit everything into the few hours a week we get to teach and many subjects are simply not being taught enough or at all. In this … Read more
As if the 1999 English curriculum wasn’t bad enough, the new Primary Language Curriculum did the unthinkable and was even worse. In this episode, I discuss why we have the new Primary Language Curriculum and how it all went wrong from the very start.
In this final part of this episode on small schools, I finally come to some conclusion around saving small schools. I take all the evidence I’ve built up over the month and see if anything that anyone else has suggested has any merit. Ultimately, it comes down to a change in mindset.
In part 3 of this episode on the future of small schools, I analyse the Small Schools Symposium and lament what might have been. However, a newspaper report following the symposium gives me and small schools some hope of survival towards the end.
In last week’s episode, (http://anseo.libsyn.com/we-need-to-talk-about-small-schools-part-1) we explored the history of small schools in Ireland and in this episode, we’re looking at research. By the end I conclude what people like me are accused of all the time.
In the first of a two-part episode, I’m going to examine small schools. After a very disappointing Symposium on Small Schools, I want to really talk about small schools and how they are slowly but surely disappearing. I want to examine the role of the small school in the 21st century but not before checking … Read more
It’s no news to teachers that there aren’t enough places for children with additional needs in specialised classes. If you have autism, there are almost 1,000 classes in Ireland, but it’s nowhere near enough. However, if you don’t have autism, you’re goosed. Let’s explore who’s to blame and what I’d do if I were the … Read more
The government are thinking of forcing schools to open classes for children with autism. In this episode, I’ll explore why this is a bad idea but also give some advice for schools that might choose to do so.
In soccer, everyone needs to know their position. One basic rule is that you can really only play in one position. In this episode I follow a yard time game of soccer and wonder what role does the union play in the team and argue that if I were the Minister for Education, I would … Read more
Social Media. What could possibly go wrong? The Teaching Council has recently issued advice to teachers on their use of social media. I am going to try and argue that if I were the Minister for Education, I would Allow Teachers to use Social Media as They See Fit. A brief history of Social Media … Read more