Podcast

As Meja sang (I had to google her!), this episode is all about the money and it’s all about the dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb decisions recently made by the Department of Education. I look at the School Book Grant, the Ancillary Grant, and look forward to the summer programme, all of which have had their funds cut. I also … Read more

This week we talk about the divestment of the first Catholic school to Educate Together, followed by the findings of the Grace report, indicating a discrepancy between the religious beliefs of teachers and their roles in Catholic schools. While one commentator blames the teachers, another blames the whole Catholic community. Next, I discuss the Polish … Read more

The following are the show notes from the latest episode of If I were the Minister for Education. The INTO Congress took place during the spring break and it’s always interesting to see the stories that the media find worthy of covering. Before it began, the media seemed to think teacher shortages caused by the … Read more

In this episode, I reflect on the implications of Josepha Madigan’s departure as the Minister for Special Education and whether the position will ever exist again. I also ponder on the INTO’s survey on physical aggression. Finally, we move to Estonia and explore why they are now kings and queens of Europe and why Ireland … Read more

In this episode, I wonder about the quantum of SET agendas and why the IPPN has decided to go against its members. I discuss why the media have reduced a completely changed curriculum down to sex. Finally I deny that I’ve been looking through your bins. Links to articles discussed can be found here:

In this episode I explore the further collapse of special education in our system. I look at all the services that have fallen asunder including NEPS, which made the news last week after a NEPS psychologist contacted a journalist. I verified what he/she said was true. I’ve been complaining about education for years and, by … Read more

Now commonly known as the Cluster Games, principals have spent the last week scrapping for hours to make up SET clusters of 25 hours. Mostly justifying their disregard of their colleagues because they think they need to save a teacher from the dreaded safeguard of the panel, I think principals have lost their principles. When … Read more

Most people agree that despite the Department of Education claiming more SET hours (formerly Learning Support) are being given to children, it feels like we’re getting less. I decided to get the facts. The following are the notes I referenced in the podcast. According to the National Principals’ Forum, 61% of principals say there are … Read more

I decided to try out expanding the podcast out to video this week so you can now find it on all the podcasting channels as well as YouTube. I’d really like your feedback on this because if it isn’t any good, I may as well drop it! It takes twice as long to produce a … Read more