Aisling copy/sum books - a monopoly, or is there any alternative?

LordSutch

Just curious, does the Aisling brand have the Irish market sewn up? are there any other makes of copy/sum books sold and permitted in Irish primary schools? Tesco (for example) used to have their own brand sum books which were cheaper and just as good, but apparently they have now been replaced by Aisling which seems to have a monoply? or does it? do schools allow any brand to be used by the kids, or is Aisling the only brand allowed?

Asking on behalf of a friend with primary school age kids in who wants to buy 'other brand' books in bulk, but are they acceptable?

Cailin CoisFarraige

LordSutch wrote: »

Just curious, does the Aisling brand have the Irish market sewn up? are there any other makes of copy/sum books sold and permitted in Irish primary schools? Tesco (for example) used to have their own brand sum books which were cheaper and just as good, but apparently they have now been replaced by Aisling which seems to have a monoply? or does it? do schools allow any brand to be used by the kids, or is Aisling the only brand allowed?

Asking on behalf of a friend with primary school age kids in who wants to buy 'other brand' books in bulk, but are they acceptable?

I can't say I've ever heard of a school specifically requesting one type of copy. You may be asked to get A4/hardback etc., but any brand should be fine. Tesco, Easons etc. all make reasonably cheap copybooks.

LordSutch

So any brand is acceptable, many thanks for that, I will pass on the info.

Big Bag of Chips

I think booklists just put on a name to direct you to the type of copy you need. Each copy has its own number (asling junior maths are No 7, I think.. bigger squares)

So once she knows the type of ruling that is needed in the copy she can buy any brand she likes.

littleteapot

Some teachers are very specific about which brand of copy they want, and they could make a child's life hell if they have the wrong ones, so if it was me, I'd try to get it right. Doesn't make any sense to me, though, because really they're all the same.
It's the same with exam papers in secondary school. My guess is the teachers have a good rapport with the reps from the specific companies, and so, they want to keep them in business.

byhookorbycrook

littleteapot wrote: »

Some teachers are very specific about which brand of copy they want, and they could make a child's life hell if they have the wrong ones, so if it was me, I'd try to get it right. Doesn't make any sense to me, though, because really they're all the same.
It's the same with exam papers in secondary school. My guess is the teachers have a good rapport with the reps from the specific companies, and so, they want to keep them in business.

Guess would be right.Companies sellling copies do not have reps that call to schools . Teachers will be specific as to what type of copy say 40 pg vs 88,red and blue line vs blue lines,small box maths copy vs bigger boxes etc. but not the brand,unless you can give actual proof to the contrary.

littleteapot

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Guess would be right.Companies sellling copies do not have reps that call to schools . Teachers will be specific as to what type of copy say 40 pg vs 88,red and blue line vs blue lines,small box maths copy vs bigger boxes etc. but not the brand,unless you can give actual proof to the contrary.

A lot of teachers do specify the brand, although around here it's usually Capital/Ormond. I don't have actual proof of that but I work in a shop which sells school books and stationery, so I deal with various book lists on a daily basis. I can't very well ask the customers if I can go photocopy their booklist so I can give someone on an online forum actual proof of this practice.

Big Bag of Chips

The brand is named just to make it easier for parents for to find the correct copy.

That is why a name is put on the booklist. I have handed in booklists with Aisling XXX on it, and gotten Ormonde XXX in it's place.

My kids have never been pulled up for having the "wrong" copy.

littleteapot

Every year we have parents come back in September saying little Johnny got ate by his teacher for having the wrong copies. Maybe teachers around here are just wagons, I don't know. It would make life much easier if they didn't specify a brand. How could it possibly be easier for the parent to find Aisling A11-Asp6, rather than just an 88pg exercise book?
When filling the basket we always try warn the parents that the teachers specified Brand A but we only have Brand B, but they're free to go ahead and buy Brand B if they think the teacher won't mind, or they can try other shops for Brand A.

Caiseoipe19

littleteapot wrote: »

Some teachers are very specific about which brand of copy they want, and they could make a child's life hell if they have the wrong ones, so if it was me, I'd try to get it right. Doesn't make any sense to me, though, because really they're all the same.
It's the same with exam papers in secondary school. My guess is the teachers have a good rapport with the reps from the specific companies, and so, they want to keep them in business.

When it comes to exam papers, it's useful for teachers to have the whole class with the same brand it's much easier tell the class to open page X instead of going by the year of the paper. The page-numbering in different types of exam papers aren't usually in sync with each other.

OP, all I can say is that in the school I attended there's no problem with different brands of copies as long as they're the right format. I'd also say that if there was a problem the reasoning behind it should be questioned.

Big Bag of Chips

I mean easier to direct parents to the type of copy that the kids need.

I have 2 in junior classes so they aren't using 88 page copies yet. They are using project copies and junior maths copies.

By telling me it Aisling 15X or 7A or whatever.. it is letting me know what sort of ruling ans markings is wanted by the teacher.

I don't have to buy the Aisling brand, but I DO have to buy an equivalent with the same markings.

byhookorbycrook

Do they actually specify that it's the wrong brand or the wrong type?

I have worked in a large number of schools and have many friends teaching all over the country. So maybe it's a Galway issue then, because it doesn't seem to be an issue in most of Munster and Leinster.
If a child is "ate" by a teacher in this day and age, the smallest problem here is the brand of copy.

littleteapot

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Do they actually specify that it's the wrong brand or the wrong type?

I have worked in a large number of schools and have many friends teaching all over the country. So maybe it's a Galway issue then, because it doesn't seem to be an issue in most of Munster and Leinster.
If a child is "ate" by a teacher in this day and age, the smallest problem here is the brand of copy.

I agree that children shouldn't be "ate" by teachers.
And yes, I wouldn't have posted in this thread at all if it was complaints about the wrong type of copies. Definitely an issue with the brands. Some teachers are just uptight!
Anyway, I just thought you all might appreciate a different opinion on the matter. I'll head back out of this forum, won't be annoying ye anymore

lily09

littleteapot wrote: »

byhookorbycrook wrote: »

Do they actually specify that it's the wrong brand or the wrong type?

I have worked in a large number of schools and have many friends teaching all over the country. So maybe it's a Galway issue then, because it doesn't seem to be an issue in most of Munster and Leinster.
If a child is "ate" by a teacher in this day and age, the smallest problem here is the brand of copy.

I agree that children shouldn't be "ate" by teachers.
And yes, I wouldn't have posted in this thread at all if it was complaints about the wrong type of copies. Definitely an issue with the brands. Some teachers are just uptight!
Anyway, I just thought you all might appreciate a different opinion on the matter. I'll head back out of this forum, won't be annoying ye anymore

I always specify the brand copy, nothing to do with kickbacks ( some people will believe anything) because a project copy or size handwriting copy is easier to explain when you give parents a code. Of course normal lined copies can be any brand. Usually its the kids who get upset rather than being ate by the teacher,
On a side note my sept pet peeve is when book shops improvise the book list, yes I meant the third class book even though they are in second or I meant the workbook not text book. Cue parents at my door for because they have wrote the names on the books.! I always put on the book list to check what they get from the shops. Rant over!..

Miss Lockhart

Also, regarding exam papers - often publishers include their own sample papers. These are different between different publishers so it is necessary for students to have the correct publisher.

Big Bag of Chips

The only reason I could see a teacher getting annoyed by the "wrong" brand is if the paper is so thin, and such bad quality that the child can't write on it without their pen/pencil going through!

My mother used to cover our copies.. in flowery wall paper. So you'd never know the brand - might be an option!

Midnight Sundance

Agree with what has been said, ordinary copies could be any brand at all. Maths copies can be a bone of contention at times when parents buy 10 large squared ones when child needs the small squares or the handwriting copy is the wrong size,
The brand would never matter in a school, getting the correct size would though and perhaps that is why a specific brand was named ,as a guideline, I doubt as a rule.

sreenty

i think that Aisling are the only irish made copies ion the market, the rest are from China. The quality of the copies is better in my opinion as it does not have the plastic feel of other copies, as a result it might be easier for the child to write on.

byhookorbycrook

Please don't drag up old threads.