Problems with school

ldxo15wus6fpgm

Ok, bit of an unusual one.

Would anyone know how to go about filing a formal complaint against the management of a primary school?

My sister is always complaining about her Irish teacher, saying she's awful strict etc. we thought nothing of it at first, it turns out they're being taught Irish by a retired pensioner. The principle of the school and my sister's teacher are sisters. Their mother was a teacher until she retired, probably about a decade ago. I would assume this means the mother is no longer a qualified teacher and that this is illegal.

The class teacher rings her mother up when it's time for irish, the mother comes down and the normal teacher buggers off into town to do her shopping etc.

I'm bloody outraged about this as my sister is having difficulty with her Irish as none of our family speak a word. Her difficulties have been brought up at parent-teacher meetings and the teacher even referred to her as being lazy about it!! Turns out she's being taught by a senile and grumpy old lady who shouldn't be there at all.

Anyone know who I go to about this? I want to make sure this doesn't carry on next year.

Thanks in advance.

Tom Young

Write to the board of management. This is not a proper thread for the legal discussion and nor should anyone or the location of that school be named.

ldxo15wus6fpgm

Tom Young wrote: »

Write to the board of management. This is not a proper thread for the legal discussion and nor should anyone or the location of that school be named.

I won't be naming anyone or anything, don't worry. I forgot to ask in the op what would be the implications if I did report it. As in could she be at risk of losing her job?

jetsonx

Marvin Puny Notebook wrote: »

I'm bloody outraged about this as my sister is having difficulty with her Irish as none of our family speak a word.

So if your sister was good at Irish you would not be complaining?

What is your exact issue here...you fail to go into specifics as to why you think
she is a bad teacher other than make comments that could be construed as
ageism.

234

You should possibly try to find out more before you make any complaint. It is quite common for retired teachers to teach part-time or on a temporay basis. While your sister may have hear that her 'real' teacher is just going out shopping or taking the time off there might be a very good and reasonabel explanation. Also, previous comments in parent-teacher meeting about your sister's standard of Irish and her application are not really relevant.

ldxo15wus6fpgm

jetsonx wrote: »

So if your sister was good at Irish you would not be complaining?

What is your exact issue here...you fail to go into specifics as to why you think
she is a bad teacher other than make comments that could be construed as
ageism.

I should have gone into more detail here but I didn't want to for fear of someone being able to work out for certain who it is - I will try my best to avoid this.

Firstly, yes I would still be complaining as her teacher who is being paid to work in the school is trotting off to the shops and leaving a woman who is not fit to teach in charge of a class. I know she is not fit to teach because the woman is well known in the area - in case you haven't guessed it's in the countryside.

The reason I mentioned the comments made at the parent teacher meeting is that I find it ridiculous that she blames my sister (and her classmates - similar comments were made to a number of her friends' parents) for her poor irish when she can't be bothered doing her job. Perhaps my sister is naturally terrible at Irish, I'm not sure, but I think it would be best if the teacher did her job instead of leaving the class with her mother.

Tom Young

Sailing closer to the wind .....

TylerIE

Marvin Puny Notebook wrote: »

Ok, bit of an unusual one.

Would anyone know how to go about filing a formal complaint against the management of a primary school?

My sister is always complaining about her Irish teacher, saying she's awful strict etc. we thought nothing of it at first, it turns out they're being taught Irish by a retired pensioner. The principle of the school and my sister's teacher are sisters. Their mother was a teacher until she retired, probably about a decade ago. I would assume this means the mother is no longer a qualified teacher and that this is illegal.

The class teacher rings her mother up when it's time for irish, the mother comes down and the normal teacher buggers off into town to do her shopping etc.

I'm bloody outraged about this as my sister is having difficulty with her Irish as none of our family speak a word. Her difficulties have been brought up at parent-teacher meetings and the teacher even referred to her as being lazy about it!! Turns out she's being taught by a senile and grumpy old lady who shouldn't be there at all.

Anyone know who I go to about this? I want to make sure this doesn't carry on next year.

Thanks in advance.

With all due respect and Im not being smart but I cant see any offences being committed?

There isnt licencing for teachers that Im aware of. There are regularly substitute teachers covering in Primary and Secondary schools who wouldnt have any qualifications (some would be Student teachers but nowhere near all of them). So I would say with reasonable certainty that its not illegal. Its also up to the school to decide who teaches what classes, so its irrelevant if the teacher goes shopping / jogging/ goes to Yoga or goes for a nap, when she leaves. Its certainly not an offence.

Shes probably doing it voluntarily, and even if not Id expect that her pension would allow her to work part time post retirement as she would be on an "earned" pension.

Au contraire, It could be argued that your sister is lucky to get "such an experienced" tutor for Irish, who brings with her a wealth of knowledge and also adds variety to the class's day by giving a different perspective.

As another poster said its probably for the Board of Management, if the Principal cannot be approached to discuss your concerns in a non-confrontational manner.

Ken.

What i'd love to know is how the daughter got a job as a primary school teacher without being able to teach Irish. I would imagine it would be a major part of teacher training.

Personally i would give the department of education a ring if i was really concerned.

jetsonx

lucyfur09 wrote: »

What i'd love to know is how the daughter got a job as a primary school teacher without being able to teach Irish.

Yes, for me this would be the real issue -(ISSUE 1)

The questioning of the teacher's performance and your daughters difficulty
with the subject - (ISSUE 2)

You have to separate these two issues. They are separate. Pick one.

Grolschevik

lucyfur09 wrote: »

What i'd love to know is how the daughter got a job as a primary school teacher without being able to teach Irish. I.

I don't think there was any implication that the "real" teacher couldn't teach Irish, just that she used her mother as a sub.

donutheadhomer

Grolschevik wrote: »

I don't think there was any implication that the "real" teacher couldn't teach Irish, just that she used her mother as a sub.

there is also no requirement for a person who teaches to be qualified as such.

tenchi-fan

Marvin Puny Notebook wrote: »

I would assume this means the mother is no longer a qualified teacher and that this is illegal.

You assume wrong. It's not illegal.
NEXT!

234

Link?

delta_bravo

234 wrote: »

Link?

A link to prove that something isn't illegal is a bit hard to find. The current education act covers the Irish education system.

It is not uncommon for relations to end up in the one school, generally through nepotism.

The story you tell op definitely has no offence being commited, completely within the law. Your only course would be to complain about the standard of the education of Irish your child is receiving.

234

delta_bravo wrote: »

A link to prove that something isn't illegal is a bit hard to find. The current education act covers the Irish education system.

It is not uncommon for relations to end up in the one school, generally through nepotism.

The story you tell op definitely has no offence being commited, completely within the law. Your only course would be to complain about the standard of the education of Irish your child is receiving.

Sorry, got a bit confused there and thought you were saying the exact opposite of what you were.