Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: » The schools were all closed throughout Covid in Ireland so not going to be much use as an example of hygiene or anything really during that period. By the time schools are back the requirements will be much more minimal.
downthemiddle wrote: » I love your little anecdotes that only ever confirm what you already believe. Just because it doesn't work for you doesn't mean you can generalise for everyone.
Zahir Bitter Cellist wrote: » It doesn't work though, even the parents with the best will cannot get their kids to engage in it long term. I know many parents who have just given up trying to even get a small amount of work done. They have given up weeks ago.
khalessi wrote: » Lack of finanacial input for many years. The budget is ample enough and they dont seem interested in increasing it. Same with Health
Lillyfae wrote: » Coming from a family of teachers I know a bit, I’m trying to understand better, hence my questions. The thing is, I don’t expect you to have all the answers as that’s not your job. That’s an expectation, or an authority, that you’ve assigned yourself. Not knowing everything about school or department management doesn’t mean that you aren’t doing your job, why do you take it so personally?? Apologies if my questions make you feel uncomfortable and invoke answers of “watch a TV show, it’s a bit like that”, that’s not my intention at all. I am trying to understand why the running of schools through the crisis and before is such a shambles, and none of that is yours and your colleagues responsibilities. No hot water, no toilet paper, no colouring pencils for gods sake! And when I ask who’s running the department, you turn to magically support them aswell? Khalessi it’s just contrarian at this stage.
khalessi wrote: » Dearest Lilyfae we have tried to explain but to no avail if you want to know the ins and outs of hygiene in covid ireland come work in a school. No point in debating with someone with no understanding of how schools work but yet has all the answers.
jrosen wrote: » June 29th will see summer camps open. Unfortunately some camps have decided not to proceed this Summer and some places who host other camps will also not run. I believe the application and clearance process was incredibly slow and some clubs have simply opted out and are focusing on just getting themselves up and running for the new sports year. So parents who rely heavily on camps to get them through the long summer break could find themselves with no camp spot.
Lillyfae wrote: » Should be no issues re health and safety for teachers then.
Lillyfae wrote: » Where can this information be found? And why do you think they can’t seem to run their department with all these post grads and doctorates they have? Because I wikid the ministers and they were just that- teaching and arts graduates. At least the ministers get voted out and reshuffled every so often. Civil service personnel can be there for 100s of years.
khalessi wrote: » Children dont put their hands up in the majority of homes to speak or line up Von Trapp Family style to enter or leave, but they do in school to maintain safety. SO regardless of what is happening outside schools there are rules and policies they follow in school and whatever requirements are needed in Spetember they will follow regardless of their behaviour outside school
iamwhoiam wrote: » Did I say they wouldn’t ? I was stating a fact , nothing more nothing less .
mcsean2163 wrote: » I have great regard for the teacher of our child who is lovely but we were given one third of the curriculum to do in two weeks of one subject. That's what I mean, I assumed the class was doing ok but it was only when I did the homework that I found how far behind the class were and hence my child. I had until June 8th to return to work, it was the best paid job I ever had. I'm now seriously considering being a stay at home Dad, at least for the next six months. I considered the social side the important thing at this time but was genuinely shocked at the level of academic education the kids received. Maybe that's normal, I don't know.
Sammy2012 wrote: » I'm just curious as to what you mean by how far behind your child is? How are you working out that they are behind? Children are always at different levels so when you say your child is behind I'm just wondering how you have determined this? Not being smart. Just interested.
khalessi wrote: » To answer you, the people in the area are not just arts graduates they are very highly qualified in areas such as social policy and other areas and some have postgraduate and doctorates in the relevent areas. Also many ofthem go on and study following employment in the civil service so you couldnt be more wrong.They have a variety of qualifications
iamwhoiam wrote: » The kids are all out playing and mixing now anyway . In playgrounds , play dates , out on greens and young teens in parks . Summer camps set up and ready to go and training and matches soon will be played .
Lillyfae wrote: » Just going to answer myself, partially. Had a quick look and most of the Ministers of the last 20 years have been teachers. This is a big problem. School principals are teachers, and are not simply overseeing their teaching staff, they're also overseeing IT, planning, facilities etc etc etc. I'm going to hazard a guess and say that probably most staff members of the DoE are Arts (or teaching?) graduates, with no real expertise in the planning or management of education systems, or any other systems. It's the same all over government, although I'll admit it's becoming a bit more varied over the last few terms. Teachers who have been on sabbatical for 30 40 years while they pursue a political career running the country. You need to hire people with the correct knowledge for the job that they're doing. A principal needs far more knowledge than that of teaching alone in order to run a school, and needs the assistance of more than a secretary in doing so. One person or more to oversee IT/ facility etc, depending on the size of school. In the Department, they need specialist buyers for equipment and supplies, healthy and safety specialists, senior IT/ facility personnel..... I could go on. You can't just hire general arts/ teaching graduates and stick them into the Department because it seems like they might be relevant to the area. This is the biggest problem I think. And I don't believe that you can promote a teacher to a principal unless they have relevant, extra education in running a centre of education.
Lillyfae wrote: » Can someone enlighten me here, what are the backgrounds of the people in the DoE? What qualifies them to work there?
the corpo wrote: » Some kids are. Loads aren't.
PowerToWait wrote: » I can only imagine how difficult it must be for teachers to engage and motivate 30 students, if even the parents cannot motivate or get one or two to engage, even a small bit.
jrosen wrote: » There is no such thing as a risk free environment. Every aspect of life carries an element of risk. Teaching is not the only industry with no guidelines. Not saying its ok, just that its a problem across the board. Our secondary did do surveys but not a peep from the primary. Blended learning will not become a thing. The curriculum is not set up that way, schools are not set up that way. Not to mention the fact that the government has now basically said almost everyone who has a job is free to return to work. How families are expected to home school their kids while working is beyond me.
