Originally posted by model born:
6. The Early Retirement Scheme is being ended. This short-sighted
measure is a breach of a national agreement and removes the
legitimate expectation of many teachers who have given a lifetime of
service.

Originally posted by long danny:
You are obviously pushing an agenda here. So let me ask a question. What is your position on the funding of private schools?

Originally posted by long danny:
You are obviously pushing an agenda here. So let me ask a question. What is your position on the funding of private schools?

Originally posted by model born:
Calling all AFR people the parents of Ireland need your help. The current government have conspired to murder our education system. An already under funded service has been devastated by the cruelest budget ever put together by an Irish Government. The cuts in education have to reversed you can help.
I include some details from websites for your info.

Contact Your Local TDs
Contact your local TDs about education cuts in the Budget
Next year it was expected that around 800 additional primary teachers would be needed to cater for an increasing school population. This figure has now been slashed in the Budget and, in addition, 200 current teaching posts are also to be lost by next September. These measures will have a significant impact on children in hundreds of schools throughout the country and, in addition, on graduate employment next year.
Please email your local TDs and make them aware of the effects of budget cuts on your school.
· Class size is to be increased from 27 to 28 from 1 September 2009.
· A ceiling of two English language support teachers per school is to be reimposed from 1 September 2009.
· There will be 200 fewer primary teachers employed next September than this September despite increased pupil population.
· Concessionary posts in previously designated disadvantaged schools not in the DEIS scheme will be suppressed.
· From 1 January 2009 there will be no substitute cover for uncertified sick leave.
· The early retirement strands for teachers are suspended immediately.
· The capitation grant is increased by €21 and ancillary grant by €3.50.
· All equipment and resource grants for resource teachers are abolished.
· €4.3m has been slashed from Traveller capitation.
· €7.5m has been saved by restricting aid for books to DEIS schools. A fund of €7m will be available for distribution to schools in the DEIS programme.
· €2.1m is gone from school library grants.
· The grant for the Centre for Talented Youth has been withdrawn.
· Implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004 has been deferred.
It is important that TDs hear at first hand the depth of feeling and anger among teachers and parents at the attack by government on the primary school children of the nation. Public representatives must be told how you feel about the attempt to impose cuts on children to compensate for the financial mismanagement of the economy.
It is essential that they know the direct impact the Budget proposals will have on your school and classroom.
· Click here for political party contact details
LOBBY AGAINST THE EDUCATION CUTS
ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL!
1. Contact your T.D. This must be reversed.
2. Tell them how it will affect your school which is in their
constituency – give specific examples:
♦.. Teachers lost
♦.. Larger class sizes
♦.. Reduced subject choice
♦.. Field trips and games cancelled.
ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL!
3. Tell them of the realities of the modern second-level school
classroom – up to 30 vibrant adolescents including pupils with
special needs and pupils whose first language is not English or
Irish.
4. Ask them what they propose to do to reverse the cuts.
WHAT ARE THE BUDGET CUTS IN SECOND-LEVEL EDUCATION?
1. The pupil teacher ratio has been raised by one to 19:1. This will
mean increased class sizes. Already 30 thousand second-level
pupils are in classes over 30. Subjects will be drop  ped. Higher and
Ordinary level classes will be combined.
2. Substitution cover for uncertified sick leave and for school
business is being withdrawn. This measure will create   chaos in
our schools and put under threat many extra-curricular activities.
Teachers will not work for nothing and deprive their part-time
colleagues of much needed income.
3. Many supports for the most vulnerable children in our schools
have been withdrawn. These include:
• Cutting €2 million from the capitation grants for Traveller children.
• Abolition of grants for Junior Certificate Schools Programme,
Leaving Certificate Applied, LCVP and Transition Year.
• The reintroduction of the cap on Language Support Teachers.
These measures have been introduced in a budget which promised
to protect the disadvantaged.
4. Other grants have been withdrawn from Choirs and Orchestras,
Home Economics and Physics and Chemistry. This measure will
reduce the diversity of Irish second-level education. a diversity which
is greatly valued by employers.
5. Additional capitation and teachers, including Home School
Liaison Teachers, have been removed from non-DEIS schools.
This is another measure that will affect the most vulnerable children
in our schools.
6. The Early Retirement Scheme is being ended. This short-sighted
measure is a breach of a national agreement and removes the
legitimate expectation of many teachers who have given a lifetime of
service.

Originally posted by dubliner 2:


Don`t see the point of your reply Danny. The man makes some points. Of course the funding of private schools is a farce. Indeed if it ended tomorrow a lot of the cuts wouldn`t have to be implemented. The only agenda I see is one where we get as many people as possible to lace their T.D.`s, especially government ones, out of it.

Originally posted by model born:
Hi LD I would have thought it was pretty obvious from my post and the concerns expressed in it for the education system where I stood on throwing money at the private education system.
I fully agree with D2 that if we had been spending that money on public ed. we would not be in this mess.
Less keep the focus on the the dreadful cuts that they are attemting to implement on the most vulnerable in society.

Originally posted by model born:
As for site admin if you ban me for highlighting this terrible blight on our society then I will wear that badge with happiness.

Originally posted by Site Admin:



Just let me know where you teach. So that I can make sure not to send my kids there.

Originally posted by Duke of Wellington:


A silly comment. Why not just move the thread Admin guy.

Originally posted by model born:
Hi Pollady.
This is not about teachers it is about children.
This gov. possess the mindset of `d**+++ensian Bootboys,` when times get tough kick the children, they then spin the thing so as to focus the blame on teachers.
They are the ones who in various rounds of pre -election deal making have given in to the demands of teachers in order to buy their support, that is why teachers have so many perks.
But the brunt of these cuts will be borne by students the people you will be depending on to fund your pension and medical card when you retire.
Just when education was heading away from production line teaching and tailoring programmes towards student needs with the LCA and transition year, teacher initiatives BTW. Batt throws everything out in a fit of pique.
As you quite correctly pointed out whether a teacher has 40 or 10 in his class he will teach and get paid, itis the student who suffers.The budget cut all spending on resources and equipment to special needs children, nothing to do with teachers, they also cut the book rental scheme which is only going to affect parents not teachers.
As parents we need your support, let the government sort out their mess with teachers after we get the focus back where it belongs on the students.
site admin would yuo please tell me what exactly I did to upset you so much rthat you insist on throwing in these chesp digs, I accused you in the wrong and I apologised, which is more than you appear capable of doing when you are in the wrong. That is all yuo are getting, but your cheap shots are getting tediuos.
I readily admit that tech matters and site navigation are not my forte, but you got your apology and if I posted in the wrong place I again say `excuse moi` etc, now will you please off.
ps. I am a self employed struggling, small business man, who just happens to have a child attending an under funded over crowded school. But, and I say this strictly in the spirit of your cheap shot jibes, I would be glad to teach your children any time, after a couple of days I am quite sure they would learn a thing or two that they will never learn at home with you.Your people and communication skills leave a lot to be desired.

Originally posted by polladdy:


while i share your sense of frustration i do not share your solutions. As a business man you must feel frustrated that you have to work all th hours god sends and there is a sector who clearly do not perform enough to merit my support.
I have 3 children who are being educated in overcrowded prefabs.Not perfect but it will do. However at 2.45 if you are not early you might get run over by the cars leaving the school.
I went to a PT meeting and i was having a friendly enough question with a teacher and I asked her about the PC in the corner. I wanted to buy similar software for my kids so i asked what they used. The tone suddenly changed and she informed me   ( she was about 40  )   that they dont use the computer because the spare teacher who comes in to do that was cut by the department.I nearly went ballistic. The lazy cow. The class size was 28 bty. IMO she couldnt be arsed, she pulled the usual stunt of blaming the department.Its similar stunt pulled all over public service.

THere are fantastic teachers who do wonderful work. THey will always be supported by me. I too am in business and some of them come for sponsership of worthwhile issues like concerts, educational trips etc. I am only too glad to donate.
However not giving a s** is always the same.If you plough more money in the lazy b`s will waste it.Dont want to sound old but we had 52 in my class in primary so one or two pupils increase doesn`t phase me.


Finally it also seems to me that nobody has coped yet...the world economy is seriously up the creek. So get real and take the pain for a few years. We cant afford it!

Originally posted by long danny:
Lets not get bogged down hanging teachers. Yes there is a considerable coterie of them that are useless and should be left no-where near a classroom. But some are really devoted and deserve our support. I have three children with only one in primary. Earlier this year my young lads teacher was in the school during the holidays painting her classroom. I helped with a few buckets of paint. The real problem as I see it is the lack of facilities, computers, sports equipment etc.. There is a shocking lack of such things in the schools. Sports seem to be seen as a cost element and no cost/benefit analysis seems to be ever done. The fact that some schools do not allow children to run is crazy. Classroom equipment is also sadly lacking. All the while we fund private schools sanctioned by our politicians. Now I wonder where they went to school.

This message has been edited - 19-nov-2008 @ 18:38

Originally posted by polladdy:

LD that teacher deserved a huge bonus imo. When more of them get like that we will be moving.wholeheartedly agree with you on the private issue. Bet you would see more sponsorship of school equipment then. fact is non fee paying schools generally have working class people going to them   ( i exagerate to make the point  )  . If you had more wealthy people going to these schools then i bet there would be more sponsorship.
If these protesters came out and highlighted that they need more local sponsorship from local firms to enhance the community... imagine say ballincollig community school having a march to raise wareness of their need for sponsorship and funds ... i think it would have much more of a positive message to the community.

Originally posted by spade caller:


without wanting to appear sexist or anything, can i just ask danny whether that teacher was male or female? unfortunately there are plenty of teachers who will do the minimum but in my experience alot of the blame lies with principals who are afraid of any confrontation and will do anything for a quiet life. as for the comments that principals should cover sick staff, obviously the poster has no experience of the average primary school where principals are genuinely run off their feet.
finally long danny, just a point about this running in the playground issue that is constantly brought up in the media. i`m not having a go at you but any school that doesn`t allow kids to run is at fault. there is no insurance issue and it`s constantly brought up in the media as a symptom of an admittedly real compo culture but i can assure you that there is no need for a ban on running in any school

Originally posted by polladdy:

If principal is run off his feet why? Sure come in at 8 and leave at 6 or 6.30 like most managers in private sector.