There’s an interesting debate going on on Education Posts, http://educationposts.ie/forum/viewtopic.php?id=20226, regarding teachers taking a paycut in order to save the jobs of colleagues who will be gone due to the increase of class sizes. Instantly there was a barrage of “not before hell freezes over” before some interesting points were raised about our current conditions.
Opinion
I Love my Netbook
After 3 years, my trusty laptop died. In its day it was a great laptop sporting 1GB of RAM and lots of other geeky stuff. I knew its time had come when I had to resign myself to sending it to a repair shop. After a couple of goes, the repair guy gave me the sad news….it was over.
Like a nerdesque organ donor, I told him he could take the “good bits” from the laptop and after a period of mourning, I headed to PC World to buy a Netbook.
So marching works…a little
From RTE news web site:
The Department of Education has announced a significant rowing back on controversial proposed cuts to substitution cover in primary schools.
The department said it will be restoring cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave in all but a limited number of cases.
The department said it will be restoring cover for teachers on uncertified sick leave in all but a limited number of cases.
Dublin Rally
The final leg of the protests against the budget cuts to education attracted over 60,000 people. I couldn’t believe the number of people around me. I rushed to the front of the protest to get a good view of the speakers – (I couldn’t hear a word in Tullamore). Even though I had arrived at the march at 11:30 that morning it took me almost 45 minutes to reach the head of the crowd.
Batt Rows Back
So Batt O’Keefe has finally cracked…albeit useless for primary schools. For some reason, he has decided to allow substitute cover for second level school but not for primary schools… yet. According to RTE, Batt O’Keefe is willing to listen to sensible suggestions from primary level regarding sub cover. So how about acknowledging publicly that he … Read more
Anti-Teacher backlash
Good evening to all on this wet and horrid night. I am writing this from the comforts of my bed!I am getting stuck into the Sunday Times, which is my preferred choice of reading on a Sunday. Today though, I am not so happy with this paper. The front page is dominated by the scandal of the “unqualified and unvetted” sub teacher. What? I cannot believe they are only hearing about this now! This was why the Teaching Council was established 2 years ago. They were meant to regulate, vet and improve teaching as a profession. To this date, I cannot name one thing they have done for us apart from look for our votes.. However, I am open to anyone from the Teaching Council putting me straight. You know the email, drop me a mail!
Photos from the Galway Rally
Three banners from the very successful Galway Rally. Next up is Tullamore!
So the government are going to lease computers now… d'oh!
Oh. My. God. As if this government could be any more stupid. We have spent the last eight years in schools without any funding for computer equipment. This means that any computers bought between 2001 and now have been bought by parents or sponsored by very generous companies. Most of us are still using computers that belong in museums. In all that time, the government had loads of money. They could have bought every school in Ireland 10 computers each and the bill would be less than €20 million, which is less than half the cost of storing eVoting machines or taxi fares from each department or Bertie’s makeup bill (probably). Now that they claim to have no money, they’re going to let businesses lease computers to them. That way the government get to spend millions more than if they just bought them in the first place. Anyway…here’s the article:
Great Slogans from the Protest
Seeing as Batt O’Keefe has the easiest name to pun, I was thinking of lightening the mood with some of the best slogans I witnessed at the protest. If you have found any good ones or wish to add any more, please do. Fled to China like Batt out of Our Hell (main picture) Batt … Read more