Teacher seperating children in class

kerryphoto

Is it legal for a primary teacher to seperate a few kids from a class because their slow learners and can't speak Irish! They were taught nothing for the entire year!

They were taught nothing, or they learned nothing?

Assuming they're in the same room, they're hearing the same thing every other student in the room is hearing?

kerryphoto

their 10 year olds! if you put them in a corner and don't include them or give them homework their probably not going to learn much! I guess this issue has come up before and that's the legal way out of their responsability.

Peregrinus

This isn't really a legal issue; it's an educational one.

Take it up with the school principal. If the kids have learning difficulties, what is s/he doing to secure the extra resources needed to assist them? Putting them in a corner of the classroom and ignoring them is clearly not an acceptable solution.

If, on the other hand, they don't have the kind of learning difficulties that call for special resources, then they should be included in classroom teaching in the ordinary way as much as possible.

I suggest post this query on the "Primary & Pre School" board, where there will be contributors who not what structures are in place, or are supposed to be in place, for addressing special educational needs, or for tackling the problem of teachers who are marginalising the less able students.

MyKeyG

OP were the children in question set to other activities or was it a case of the teacher putting them in their own group so that he or she could give them particular attention regarding the subject? I'm not sure a teacher has the discretion to conclude a child's capability regarding the curriculum.

kerryphoto

MyKeyG wrote: »

OP were the children in question set to other activities or was it a case of the teacher putting them in their own group so that he or she could give them particular attention regarding the subject? I'm not sure a teacher has the discretion to conclude a child's capability regarding the curriculum.

Neither, they weren't giving anything to do!

Procrastastudy

I'm sure there are a few angles you could attack this legally - I'm not sure what you hope to achieve though?

You need to speak to the school, and frankly, should have done it before now if you knew what was going on. Until you have exhusted this and any dispute resolution there is very little point going in and quoting case law / statutes at the school.

mitzicat

Sounds like the teacher is awfully lazy. Really, this education system is broken. I would make a huge fuss - publicly. Go to the media.

schemingbohemia

kerryphoto wrote: »

Is it legal for a primary teacher to seperate a few kids from a class because their slow learners and can't speak Irish! They were taught nothing for the entire year!

Why has it taken a full year for the issue to be raised? Did it not come up at any parent-teacher meetings? Mentioned by the children at home? Has the issue been raised with the Principal of the school or the Board of Management?

MariMel

kerryphoto wrote: »

Is it legal for a primary teacher to seperate a few kids from a class because their slow learners and can't speak Irish! They were taught nothing for the entire year!

Are the children slow learners OR can't speak Irish OR cant speak English OR two or three of this combination? If a child cant speak Irish then I would think that that would be one class a day where they werent involved. Whereby that is not good it would be no way mean their exclusion for the entire school day.

Peregrinus wrote: »

This isn't really a legal issue; it's an educational one.

Take it up with the school principal. If the kids have learning difficulties, what is s/he doing to secure the extra resources needed to assist them? Putting them in a corner of the classroom and ignoring them is clearly not an acceptable solution.

If, on the other hand, they don't have the kind of learning difficulties that call for special resources, then they should be included in classroom teaching in the ordinary way as much as possible.

I suggest post this query on the "Primary & Pre School" board, where there will be contributors who not what structures are in place, or are supposed to be in place, for addressing special educational needs, or for tackling the problem of teachers who are marginalising the less able students.

This matter really should have been mentioned before now. 3/4 of the school year has passed and no-one has noticed before now. I know my 9 yr old tells me stuff that goes on in the class room so I find it hard to comprehend that not one parent knew this was happening because if they did then surely they would have enquired.
The lack of suitable resources of children with special needs can vary greatly from school to school. I have personal experience with my own child regarding this. I had to push and fight to get him the help he needed but I did what was necessary. Why is no-one fighting for the extra resources for these children?

mitzicat wrote: »

Sounds like the teacher is awfully lazy. Really, this education system is broken. I would make a huge fuss - publicly. Go to the media.

Yes I agree this teacher/school is not meeting the standards that should be there. However I have a slightly different point of view when it comes to what teachers can face. There is a huge proportion of child starting school and entering schools for which english is not their first or even second language. I personally know of and am aware of many parents who feel that their child will learn english when they go to school. This is putting those children at a severe disadvantage. I dont know many 4 yr olds who cant hold a conversation by that time. But stick them in a room full of children and adults speaking an alien language to them then they are bound to be slow at learning.
My opinion on this is also on the lack of responsibility some parents (Please not that I said some, not most, not all....some) take with regards to their childrens education believing that it is solely up to teachers to educate their child.

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Why has it taken a full year for the issue to be raised? Did it not come up at any parent-teacher meetings? Mentioned by the children at home? Has the issue been raised with the Principal of the school or the Board of Management?

I know if my child came home every day with no homework or could never tell me anything they had done during the day that I would have been in within a week or two.

coylemj

mitzicat wrote: »

Sounds like the teacher is awfully lazy. Really, this education system is broken. I would make a huge fuss - publicly. Go to the media.

An incompetent teacher is a news story? Dream on! I know of a small village school in the midlands, the teacher was a youngish man but he was useless. The parents went to TDs, wrote to the Minister but nothing could be done so they pulled their pupils out of the school and drove them to a national school in the nearest big town.

Eventually the number of pupils remaining in the school meant that it was no longer viable so the department closed the school but of course incompetence isn't grounds for dismissal from a public sector job so they found a new role for him, I can't say what it is because it would identify the individual but he is still on a full teacher's salary though no longer teaching classes of children. The village school is still closed.