Schools closed until March/April? (part 4) **Mod warning in OP 22/01**

wirelessdude01

billy_beckham wrote: »

Hope I never end up under the knife of a surgeon who did the LC last year or this....

Anyone who gets that far in their profession is more than capable.

1st and 2nd year weeds out those who either aren't suited to the course, don't actually like the course, aren't capable or willing to do the necessary work and/or possibly didn't research their CAO list properly.

I flunked out of my initial course as it was option 6/7 on the list and hadn't researched it properly. Turned out there was a huge physics element to it which was a subject I had just about managed to scrap an honour in during the LC. Swapped courses after a year to something more suitable to my personality, likes, strengths and interests

Going by the whinging from some of last years and this years leaving certs a lot of them aren't able to work under their own steam and motivation so will end up crashing out of 3rd level where no one will hold your hand through the process.

Stateofyou

billy_beckham wrote: »

Hope I never end up under the knife of a surgeon who did the LC last year or this....

This logical fallacy is among the worst I've ever seen, and that's saying something.

Bananaleaf

It's 3.30pm and I am yet to hear any word from my school. I've seen a copy of what was said by DES here, but where have you guys gotten it from?

Eoinbmw

Well my Little fella is now in meltdown mode!
No word of special schools opening even do its been made a "priority"
A lot of talk about health in this thread! Mental health is just as important as physical and right now Im beginning to worry about my sons mental health!
The sad thing is the school is ready willing and able to open!
What the Eff are the government and unions actually doing about this?

khalessi

Bananaleaf wrote: »

It's 3.30pm and I am yet to hear any word from my school. I've seen a copy of what was said by DES here, but where have you guys gotten it from?

It was sent to school and put up on Aladdin

mirrorwall14

Another week. No progress. Honestly the LC is now officially a disaster. What were the Department and SEC doing??!

I think I’m correct they have haven’t even appointed examiners for the practicals and orals? Sure we aren’t long from those conference supposed to be starting. Leaving certs haven’t even been given official dates for the music practicals and it’s worth 50% of the grade.

Wtaf is going on

jimmytwotimes 2013

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Another week. No progress. Honestly the LC is now officially a disaster. What were the Department and SEC doing??!

I think I’m correct they have haven’t even appointed examiners for the practicals and orals? Sure we aren’t long from those conference supposed to be starting. Leaving certs haven’t even been given official dates for the music practicals and it’s worth 50% of the grade.

Wtaf is going on

From what small media leaks we've seen looks like a choice between the LC and PG will be offered before the exams this time. Presume most will go for PG.

am_zarathustra

Why not 50/50 with modified papers? The 50% predicted keeps them engaged with the teacher and learning and the 50% exam prepares them for actual college exams. The highest stakes exams a lot of these students will have sat is JC and 5th year Christmas.....that's worrying.

But Lord knows whatever discision they make over the next week will almost certainly not be what happens in the end! If it's PG, the results will be horrifically inflated and random students will be downgraded by the program that does whatever it does (because it didn't do what it said it would)

Millem

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Another week. No progress. Honestly the LC is now officially a disaster. What were the Department and SEC doing??!

I think I’m correct they have haven’t even appointed examiners for the practicals and orals? Sure we aren’t long from those conference supposed to be starting. Leaving certs haven’t even been given official dates for the music practicals and it’s worth 50% of the grade.

Wtaf is going on

I applied for LCA practicals which are the week beginning the 17th May.
I can’t remember when appointments usually are....I think after Easter?

The recruitment for JC practicals hasn’t started yet.

am_zarathustra

Millem wrote: »

I applied for LCA practicals which are the week beginning the 17th May.
I can’t remember when appointments usually are....I think after Easter?

The recruitment for JC practicals hasn’t started yet.

I correct LC, normally have my letter by now! I am assuming the results next week are causing an issue......be interesting to see how they've messed that up

Bananaleaf

jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: »

From what small media leaks we've seen looks like a choice between the LC and PG will be offered before the exams this time. Presume most will go for PG.

As someone else pointed out a while back - if they announce that, say, next month, where does that leave LCs who choose the PG until the end of the school year? Last year, once PG was mentioned, all contact had to be cut

am_zarathustra

Months of knowing predictive grades are an issue will mean invasive parents all over everything that happens in the school, it will make a difficult situation unbearable for many. Ireland does not have a system of continuous assessment with checks and balances, grades were allowed to be inflated last year to essentially keep everyone happy. If PG with out any exam element is allowed again it will lead to far more trouble

mirrorwall14

Millem wrote: »

I applied for LCA practicals which are the week beginning the 17th May.
I can’t remember when appointments usually are....I think after Easter?

The recruitment for JC practicals hasn’t started yet.

Music practicals are usually the two weeks before or the two weeks after Easter depending on when it falls. My conference was the start of March the first year I did it

Millem

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Music practicals are usually the two weeks before or the two weeks after Easter depending on when it falls. My conference was the start of March the first year I did it

I am home ec. The Jc practicals are the two weeks after Easter this year.

Millem

Eoinbmw wrote: »

Well my Little fella is now in meltdown mode!
No word of special schools opening even do its been made a "priority"
A lot of talk about health in this thread! Mental health is just as important as physical and right now Im beginning to worry about my sons mental health!
The sad thing is the school is ready willing and able to open!
What the Eff are the government and unions actually doing about this?

I really do feel for you and my sister is in the same situation. My nephew attends a special school. Even a mid term break really affects him. Prior to covid it could get very stressful and it is a two person job at all times in her house.

I do worry if either herself or her husband got covid it would be an even bigger disaster. Even if they weren’t that sick the day to day operation is full on. He would have a lot of personal care needs.

Personally for me as a teacher and a parent I am scared of covid. This is the first time it has really hit me. I am hearing of people who live close to me dying who have no underlying conditions.
From my personal experience I don’t trust the hse with regards to schools eg close contacts etc.
Until I hear it is safe to have people in my house I don’t think schools should be open.

History Queen

Bananaleaf wrote: »

As someone else pointed out a while back - if they announce that, say, next month, where does that leave LCs who choose the PG until the end of the school year? Last year, once PG was mentioned, all contact had to be cut

I'm wondering about this too. The statement just released is ridiculous 🙄 how many ways can they say bloody nothing?!

https://twitter.com/Education_Ire/status/1355196441094926349?s=19

Str8outtaWuhan

You've heard it here first, hydrid PG/CA/terminal exam. Just enough crumbs for everyone to be happy/unhappy.

km79

They are dragging the arse out of this to get to mid term

jimmytwotimes 2013

Only reason I think PG will have to be offered as an option is immunocompromised students won't be able to go in under the same conditions as other students.

That and if a chunk of course rests on paper with PG. Imagine being a student who contracts covid during exams. Do you risk continuing, have you infected half the exam room you were in?

You could have students getting medical certs excusing them from exams (because of themselves or out of fear of infecting vulnerable family) and opting for PG only.

Plenty scenarios to be worked out by the great and the good.

History Queen

Just when we thought the leaks had stopped

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/what-alternative-options-are-under-review-for-2021-leaving-cert-1.4471108?mode=amp

Wombatman

am_zarathustra wrote: »

Why not 50/50 with modified papers? The 50% predicted keeps them engaged with the teacher and learning and the 50% exam prepares them for actual college exams.

If they sit an exam it's for all the marbles. No getting away from that. The only way predicted grades come into the equation is if an exam is deemed unfeasible or unfair.

The only definitive decision that can be made next week is predicted grades. They could declare that they plan to go ahead with a 'traditional', albeit modified , LC, but that would just keep us in the same position we are in now.

TTLF

It's great they're doing meetings to figure stuff out, but I really wish we knew who the "students" in that educational stakeholder is, are they basing that student input over surveys or something?

wirelessdude01

History Queen wrote: »

Just when we thought the leaks had stopped

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/what-alternative-options-are-under-review-for-2021-leaving-cert-1.4471108?mode=amp

Ahh the favourite 'leakee'.

Eoinbmw

Well going by the last few evenings out walking the dog the local leaving cert and below Kids are not worried one bit about catching covid so to come out with that excuse for the leaving cert and a return to school is utterly false!
Its actually a very poor reflection on parents the size of the groups all hanging around together they may as well be in school!
The more I think about when kids like my son who just wants for a routine cant go back because of the selfish behavior of others(not teachers)!

Leftwaffe

I know schools aren’t opening but has there been an official announcement about Monday at all? Or have I missed it?

TTLF

Leftwaffe wrote: »

I know schools aren’t opening but has there been an official announcement about Monday at all? Or have I missed it?

nope, nothing. I guess people figured it out from the "Level 5 lockdown extended" message

wirelessdude01

Leftwaffe wrote: »

I know schools aren’t opening but has there been an official announcement about Monday at all? Or have I missed it?

There was a wishy washy statement sent from the DES to the schools earlier today which referred to continuing level 5 and the like. The wording made sure not to reference closure or anything of the sort. My guess the reason behind this was the impending court date on Monday.

jimmytwotimes 2013

Eoinbmw wrote: »

Well going by the last few evenings out walking the dog the local leaving cert and below Kids are not worried one bit about catching covid so to come out with that excuse for the leaving cert and a return to school is utterly false!

Observations from you and your dog unlikely to be considered by the Dept I'd say

Millem

jimmytwotimes 2013 wrote: »

Observations from you and your dog unlikely to be considered by the Dept I'd say

The teenagers will say they are outdoors too!

Stateofyou

Eoinbmw wrote: »

Well going by the last few evenings out walking the dog the local leaving cert and below Kids are not worried one bit about catching covid so to come out with that excuse for the leaving cert and a return to school is utterly false!
Its actually a very poor reflection on parents the size of the groups all hanging around together they may as well be in school!
The more I think about when kids like my son who just wants for a routine cant go back because of the selfish behavior of others(not teachers)!

I know it's irritating, but kids and others not being worried and breaking rules really isn't a reason to go ahead and cram them back into small, under unventilated spaces while numbers are still high and hospitals full to the brim.

Kids being worried about covid is not the reason or excuse for schools not being back. See above. And the kids you saw the last few days are not representative of the whole of Ireland, either.

You're right about it being a poor reflection on the parents, though.