markodaly wrote: » It's cultural as well, due to our history and family dynamics. Sure a Granny or Aunt can look after the kids while mom and dad goes to work, and a 'creche' is just an extension of that.
wirelessdude01 wrote: » Why would either of those unions be interested in those areas as they would have zero members there? You really have no clue.
People look after their own area.
khalessi wrote: » Creches educate and carry out montesorri education.
They are fabulous and mix childcare and education in an excellent way and the workers have degrees in early childhood education and are not paid enough.
Pity you know so little about them and seem to have little regard for them. I was delighted with the creche my children went to and still attend as they have a fabulous afterschool programme. I just hope it will be available in September.
markodaly wrote: » Eh no. A Montessori is different from a standard Creche. The fact you do not even know the basics tells it all. A creche is NOT a Montessori. You may as well have called a primary school a creche. Montessori's are good and have been around for decades. I know of them well. The problem is that there are too few of them, their age range is too small. And of course there is a funding issue. At least I know that a creche is not a Montessori. I am not denying that there are some good preschool education options around, but how much did you pay for the privilege? How much were the people there earning per hour? You are an educated person with a job. Do you not think everyone should be entitled to the same standard of ELCC care you had?
markodaly wrote: » Exactly, yet we are also led to belive anytime on of their representatives goes on the media that they are really looking after the interests of the kids they teach and Irish educations. They paint themselves as key bulwark of Irish education, yet the most outdated and unfunded part of Irish education, they do zero to advance it. As the saying goes, don't piss on my left and tell And this is the inertia we are talking about, which describes Irish education very much. There is little overall or holistic approach to it where each group defends and holds onto their own patch at the moment. You think this is normal, but let me tell you its not. You only think its normal because its the only thing you know. It's not your fault per say, its what you know and grew up in but there is a serious cultural and socio-economic issues in Irish education on who are the advocates for children and who are the teachers, interia that has built up for decades, which is now coming home to roost. Then, some people get sore when I point out the lack of capable leadership in Irish education as a whole. Teachers et al, should really take a step back and look at the entire sector and compare it with many other countries, which appear to be more nimble, agile and willing to take pragmatic decisions to get schools open again. DoE floundering at the wheel. Boards of Management going on half-backed solo runs Unions missing in action unless there is a pay claim Some decent teachers and parents in the middle scratching their heads, waiting for someone to step up to the plate.
timmy_mallet wrote: » Honestly, who comes up with this nonsense? People tying themselves in bloody knots, some curtain twitcher emailing the school or whatever saying 'have you thought about this...'. Utterly, utterly ridiculous.
markodaly wrote: » There seems to be a lot of that. Self-appointed experts freely giving their opinions on what should and what should not be done. Hence the cluster **** at the moment where Ireland is still the only country in the EU that does not have any schools open. Again, total lack of leadership.
khalessi wrote: » Creches have montesorris and run them very well so well done on showing what you dont know
khalessi wrote: » Would you include yourself there as a lot of people would agree that you talk rubbish when it comes to education and seem to hold a grudge against teachers.
markodaly wrote: » Some schools have after school care, would we call schools daycare now? Go talk to a Montessori teacher and tell them that they work in a 'creche'. Their response should clarify things for you.
markodaly wrote: » I never said I was an expert, but I will call out the lack of leadership and the obvious inertia in Irish education. Do you not find it at all odd, that we are still talking about opening up schools in September when most other EU countries managed to figure this out in May? Oh, but the DoE, oh but funding, oh but classroom sizes.... The same, 'Ireland is unique in the world' type excuses that don't wash with most parents.
khalessi wrote: » I find it odd that you can slag off education and be very negative about it and nothing is done. It is one of many things I find odd. I also find it odd for an educated person you ffail to understand deliberately that schools are just asking for the same protections as other sectors reopening and nothing that other schools have got around the world. In fact we are asking for less as we know the Dept is not interested. But sure you have a one track band wagon so continue to beat your drum about unions etc.
khalessi wrote: » Dearest go talk to the montesorri teacher working in a crech running montesorri classes. Let me help results when you google creche, alot of creche and montesorris come uphttps://www.google.ie/search?ei=7JsPX-qVN9HsxgPhireYBQ&q=creche&oq=creche&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzILCAAQsQMQgwEQkQIyBQgAELEDMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAAyAggAMgIIADICCAA6BAgAEEc6BAgAEA06BggAEA0QHjoICAAQFhAKEB46BggAEBYQHjoFCAAQkQJQjpEfWIehH2DSox9oAHABeAGAAccCiAHMDJIBCDExLjMuMC4xmAEAoAEBqgEHZ3dzLXdpeg&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjqu- 7nvtDqAhVRtnEKHWHFDVMQ4dUDCAw&uact=5 results for creche and montesorrishttps://www.google.ie/search?source=hp&ei=5ZsPX6fmDJGD8gK4y4vgDA&q=creche+and+montesorri&oq=creche+and+montesorri&gs_lcp=CgZwc3ktYWIQAzIECAAQDTIECAAQDTIGCAAQDRAeMgYIABANEB4yBggAEA0QHjIGCAAQDRAeMgYIABANEB4yBggAEA0QHjIGCAAQDRAeMgYIABANEB46CAgAELEDEIMBOgUIABCxAzoCCAA6BAgAEAM6BggAEBYQHjoICAAQFhAKEB5Q-gNYnDRg6zdoAnAAeACAAWeIAe0OkgEEMjIuMZgBAKABAaoBB2d3cy13aXo&sclient=psy-ab&ved=0ahUKEwjn7JjkvtDqAhWRgVwKHbjlAswQ4dUDCAc&uact=5 Strange a lot of the same places appear
khalessi wrote: » I find it odd that you can slag off education and be very negative about it and nothing is done. It is one of many things I find odd.
markodaly wrote: » Now, the average Primary school teacher in Ireland would not be seen dead in one of these places as they think its beneath them.
markodaly wrote: » I think you are mistaken, I am taking the people in charge of education to task, and I am also taking those in society who have outdated views on Early Learning also to task..
tscul32 wrote: » Where do the upper primary teachers do these online classes in school if the lower classes have been split and are using all the classrooms? And who is teaching the split classes, they only have one teacher per class. I'm not trying to just shoot down your idea, I think everyone needs to keep thinking of options but there are just so many things to consider. And no matter what solution is chosen there will need to be a considerable injection of funds. My kids are going into 3rd class, 1st year and 3rd year. It's the middle one I feel for the most, because if he doesn't get into the actual building he could have a year done without knowing any class mates as he's the only student from his primary going to that school. And with all the newness of secondary for him it will be hard. I just hope there is some concrete plan soon so that everyone -teachers, parents and students - can prepare.
markodaly wrote: » And this is the inertia we are talking about, which describes Irish education very much. There is little overall or holistic approach to it where each group defends and holds onto their own patch at the moment. You think this is normal, but let me tell you its not. You only think its normal because its the only thing you know. It's not your fault per say, its what you know and grew up in but there is a serious cultural and socio-economic issues in Irish education on who are the advocates for children and who are the teachers, interia that has built up for decades, which is now coming home to roost. Then, some people get sore when I point out the lack of capable leadership in Irish education as a whole. Teachers et al, should really take a step back and look at the entire sector and compare it with many other countries, which appear to be more nimble, agile and willing to take pragmatic decisions to get schools open again. DoE floundering at the wheel. Boards of Management going on half-backed solo runs Unions missing in action unless there is a pay claim Some decent teachers and parents in the middle scratching their heads, waiting for someone to step up to the plate.
KerryConnor wrote: » I'm surprised to hear expectations here of not going back to school. I'd be shocked if schools didn't go back at least 50%. Primary 100% and secondary maybe 50%. Why do you all feel any return is doubtful, what has changed? Numbers are creeping up a little but, there still v low.
coffeyt wrote: » We had an e-mail from our kids school this week (primary) advising they are going with a non uniform policy this year. Kind of annoying as I had already purchased uniforms for them both and I would always purchase 2 uniforms along with tracksuit which means one wash a week allows a clean uniform everyday, now I'm going to have to purchase additional clothing for school!!! I'm planning on letting them wear the trousers and polo shirts (new ones daily obviously of both) any way and just ordinary jumpers/fleece.
Lillyfae wrote: » Please don't slate me for agreeing with this but I do. The whole sector is clearly burned out. To the teachers on the ground, this is not to slate you (all, because we all know that some are fantastic). But the fact that your unions, management and employer are for the most part teachers/ former teachers, means that there are no new ideas, and a constant resistance to change. There's a culture there that needs to be dismantled. The government is full of ex-teachers, and there are few dedicated training centres for teachers leading to group think overall. A couple of teachers who are the most vocal on here jump on any opinion that opposes theirs and heckle and jeer until the poster stops posting- opposition should be welcomed, not ridiculed, because this is what leads to progression in all walks of life. Granted there have been some ridiculous accusations levelled in the direction of the teachers but if it was me I wouldn't lower myself to the responses I've seen here. To me this attitude from some further highlights the mindset and frankly the emotional intelligence/age of some of the people who are responsible for educating our children (please don't remind me that this is primarily the parents job, we know that you know that this is in the constitution). If this is an example of what happens at department/bom meetings then I would imagine that schools won't be opening in September. Especially to newly qualified teachers, you are the most capable of the whole lot. Don't follow the shower that went before down the road of complacency and politics and I'm confident that you will revolutionize Irish education in the coming years. The current situation is an opportunity, and I hope that your work will be seen and applauded.
khalessi wrote: » I would think that there are plenty of new ideas in teaching but a lot of it goes unseen. Teachers quickly moved from class teaching to online teaching without the infrastructure being there and there was a lot of thinking on their feet and adaptation. For some it went brilliantly and for others not so good.
khalessi wrote: » I say that knowing I have been criticial of my children's teachers, but I could see they were doing what they could with the infrastructure they had to use and also that they were not computer savvy at all. This has to be further developed nd built upon and the NCCA and a number of other professional bodies are looking into it, for September. There should be a number of models for class teaching, blended learning and online learning put in place for future planning, so we can cope with whatever is thrown at us.
khalessi wrote: » I see innovation everday in the classroom prior to COvid19, my school were very big on IT, Science, English Lit Maths and Drama and music. The teachers went out of their way to create dynamic learning environments but that goes unseen by parents for the most part and also by those who have no stake in schools, unless you are lucky enough to get yourself on tv but tht is rare as the media are anti teacher and have been for a long time. Occasionally though it happens.
khalessi wrote: » Even on this thread despite the criticism there have been some good suggestions put forward by teachers and non teachers. The problem though is if a non teacher puts forward a suggestion and it is explained why it wont work by a teacher, the teacher is jumped on for being negative. It does not happen in other careers where people who dont work in the area feel free to tell others how to do their jobs and get offended if the flaws are pointed out. There have also been situations where suggestions have been welcomed.
khalessi wrote: » I disagree that there is resisitance to change. Change happens all the time in teaching, it is a career you have to be flexible in and up for change. Being resisitant to change is not pointing out where there are flaws in a plan or suggestions to help something happen, like say the reopening of schools, or saying finance is required, it is being honest and practical.
khalessi wrote: » The more vocal teachers here, from what I have seen, are happy to debate opposite opinions when they are put forward as constructive criticism but will not tolerate teacher bashing which has a long history on Boards. ie. and also has been particularly prevelent since March. Sadly a lot of people are very critical of teachers and some dont even have any connection to education but feel it is ok to slag off teachers and get a dig in for whatever reason. You just have to go back through this thread and it is plainly visible and you dont even have to go back too far. Some people have their own agenda and it doesn't matter what anyone says, they are just here to spread negativitiy even if what they say is not close to being factual. Sometimes it feels like there is a mentality out there amongst the so called keyboard warriors that everyone is doing it so why can't I. Some remarks are downright vicious slagging off teachers and uneccesary. Others deliberately misconstrue what is said. There are those who are reasonable and put forward good points but sometimes that gets drowned out in the noise of the empty vessels. Constructive criticism is welcome but teacher bashing and trolling whether direct or disguised in eloquent prose is still teacher bashing or trolling and not welcome and it is hard when you love your job and see it being slated to stand back and let that happen.
Deeec wrote: » I think no uniforms will just make it harder on families. My 9.5 yr old is very fashion conscious - school will become a fashion show. It is much cheaper ( primary school) to buy a few uniforms from dunnes than to buying expensive clothes to be the same as their friends. Its a ridiculous decision. Even the school tracksuit in my kids school is cheap to buy.
wirelessdude01 wrote: » Damned if they do, damned if they don't. That's what comes to mind when it comes to uniform. Discussion that requires a totally different and new thread though. Personally I didn't have a uniform throughout my school years but can see arguments from both sides in relation to them.
jlm29 wrote: » This is true. Plain navy tracksuit bottoms cost €3.50. Plain uncrested sweatshirts cost around the same for smaller kids, so I can’t see it being difficult to send them in fresh uniform each day. I’d anticipate changing their clothes as soon as they come home if they were in street clothes, so they’d need an awful lot of clothes. I have about a trillion school PE jumpers as it is, I’d have no bother sending having a fresh track suit daily.
