Should Politics Be taught at Leaving Cert level?

The Volt · 14-02-2007 04:49PM #1

Well? I personally think it'd be a great idea, to get students in the right frame of mind for voting etc. Maybe have debates on isssues like Abortion, Legalising of drugs etc?

ZorbaTehZ · 14-02-2007 04:57PM

The same thing pretty much, would be CSPE for the leaving cert.
Personally I'd have no interest in it.

Haven't a Clue · 14-02-2007 05:12PM

Personally, I wouldn't mind it as a subject at all. However, if it were taught, it'd end up being one of the crap teachers teaching it, which would annoy the bejesus out of me, which leads me to saying no.

AdMMM · 14-02-2007 05:14PM

We already have debates and discussions in religion of all subjects! I think it's worthwhile, but I do think that a Politics subject would be too difficult to examine. Too many people would find it easy to get A's.

Thomas_S_Hunterson · 14-02-2007 05:48PM

Waste of time.

yurmothrintites · 14-02-2007 05:54PM

There should be some sort of education on politics in the Leaving cert. Most leaving certs turn 18 during the year so they are able to vote. Why would there be CSPE in junior cert if they can't vote and nothing in LC? It doesn't make sense! Maybe should be incorporated into religion?

14-02-2007 06:06PM

yurmothrintites wrote:

Maybe should be incorporated into religion?

Yes. It would be more useful than religion anyway.

Naikon · 14-02-2007 06:16PM

No, Information Technology/Computing/Programming should be taught in this day and age.

*Tripper* · 14-02-2007 06:41PM

I don't think it could be taught as an LC subject. Alot of it is subject to personel opinion which would lead to a virtually incorrectable paper.

However, on a completely unrealated matter, I do think that the business course should be changed. Its my belief that the course should be halved and double the amount of material in whats left. Its absolutley ridiculous how vague some of the explanations etc. are. Its mis-information as regards to the real business world.

14-02-2007 06:43PM

I agree with Naikon.

I had a debate with my principal about replacing at least one religion class with IT.
But because the Bishop says we must have at least 2 religion classes a week thats what we must do. :rolleyes:

Every other class in the school have computer classes but we don't because of study periods. And the IT classes themselves are pretty useless.
It's a joke really how awful some people in my year are with computers.

md99 · 14-02-2007 07:22PM

eh, can't decide... I'm stayin outta this one

miabella · 14-02-2007 10:02PM

md99 wrote:

eh, can't decide... I'm stayin outta this one

you politician! you don't need any classes!

PurpleFistMixer · 14-02-2007 10:33PM

Now, I don't do any of the relevant subjects so I may well be wrong, but doesn't Religion already deal with morality-related issues, and History already deal with ... politics in history? And Geography has something about societies as well afaik... I think if a new subject was made it'd either be really subjective and vague and no one would pick it as Politics sounds difficult and requiring of essays to be written, or it'd be like CSPE and everyone would pick it because it'd be a dos.

Maybe they don't have CSPE on for LC because it IS too easy, anyway. I suppose they could make it worth less... like LCVP. Which sounds kind of CSPE-ish.

DublinWriter · 15-02-2007 09:32AM

Good point.

Modern history is essentially politics, but there was a very delibrate decision for decades by the Department of Education not to teach Irish History after 1916 as the Civil War has always been a very contentious and fractious issue.

I think 'Law' would be a better subject at LC level, especially consumer law and maybe Tort. At least you'd be equiping youngsters with knowledge that they could actually use in the real world.

yurmothrintites · 15-02-2007 11:19AM

DublinWriter wrote:

I think 'Law' would be a better subject at LC level, especially consumer law and maybe Tort. At least you'd be equiping youngsters with knowledge that they could actually use in the real world.

Yes law should definatley be taught to senior classes

yurmothrintites · 15-02-2007 11:20AM

DublinWriter wrote:

I think 'Law' would be a better subject at LC level, especially consumer law and maybe Tort. At least you'd be equiping youngsters with knowledge that they could actually use in the real world.

Yes law should definately be taught to senior classes

madgal · 15-02-2007 05:38PM

Politics is an exam that you can take for A-Levels in Britain.
Last year I was in Belfast for the open days of the colleges up there, and one of the courses specifically asked for Leaving cert students to take politics as a Leaving Cert subject.
I told them that we didn't do politics and your one thought I was being a dumb blonde and said it was just my school. Like wtf?

I think we have fairly boring subjects... why can we not do health subjects, politics, socialology and all that you do for A-Levels.

OctavarIan · 15-02-2007 05:53PM

Good god, don't stagnate the cirriculum any further! Politics is something you can learn in your own time, CSPE for JC is enough imo. If it were to be introduced for LC it should be optional.

Madgal wrote:

I think we have fairly boring subjects... why can we not do health subjects, politics, socialology and all that you do for A-Levels.

Because the Irish education system is a joke

madgal · 15-02-2007 05:58PM

Here the elections are up and coming -- start running for it!

bright · 15-02-2007 10:23PM

politics would be too topical and waffly. politcal science, might be an option but the trouble is a full class of intrested individuals would be required....chances.

whassupp2 · 15-02-2007 11:15PM

I think it shud be but optional like every other subject

Should Politics Be taught at Leaving Cert level?

Should Politics Be taught for the LC? 21 votes

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