No book Grant this year

chopperbyrne · 25-08-2009 09:09PM

My school had a school jumper with crest, but not once in six years did I ever wear it. I just wore a plain navy v neck jumper and nothing was ever said to me.

My school also had a rental scheme for books which was excellent.

Trampas · 25-08-2009 09:10PM

When I went to school you bought them in Dunnes ot whatever and your mother sowed on the school bag.

Looked like the Gardaí in my school.

Never had to buy from a shop.

Maybe a case to bring it up with the school why they need to buy from X and not Dunnes or a shop like that.

The wear and tear on a school uniform shouldn't be hard wearing if the kids take them off when they get home instead of staying in them all day IMO

Biggins · 25-08-2009 09:12PM

It would be nice to have even options in the books/uniforms and where we can buy them taking into account price competition.

...Sadly, such is the monopoly - we don't get that choice - just get bullied and pressurised!
A' well, bullying due to schools... what do ya expect! Somethings don't ever change.

sunnyside · 25-08-2009 09:23PM

Daysha wrote: »

but why do some school find it so important to make sure every student has the same up to date book? I'm telling you now, the difference the 3rd edition book will make to the students grades compared to what she'd get using the 2nd edition is absolutely minimal.

They need the books to match because if the teacher says "Let's start on page 60" page 60 needs to be the same for everybody. It would be a nightmare for the teacher if everyone had a different edition of the book. It doesn't affect grades at all. It's to maintain order in class.

I think people should have the option of buying the school crest to sew or attach with fabric glue to the cheaper chain store jumpers. Surely if parents demanded this "in the current economic climate" the schools would have to listen.

I also want to suggest being fussey about washing powder for uniforms. Use non-bio, biological washing powder is only for dirty clothes as in builders, mechanics, farmers. Don't use Daz, uniforms are dark colours and Daz has a lot of bleach for whitening, which will fade dark colours.
I know that's off topic but it might be useful to parents reading this thread:)

phasers · 25-08-2009 09:30PM

Oh also whoever sets out the english course are bastards because they constantly change what poets are on the course, making it impossible to get a second hand poetry book, which costs something like 30 euro I think... Every year has a new edition.

I think Irish may be similar, but they just rotate the syllabus. Everything is in the one book which makes it possible to keep for younger siblengs.

Feckin English, screwing us again :pac:

ShooterSF · 25-08-2009 09:34PM

Trampas wrote: »

When I went to school you bought them in Dunnes ot whatever and your mother sowed on the school bag.

Looked like the Gardaí in my school.

Never had to buy from a shop.

Maybe a case to bring it up with the school why they need to buy from X and not Dunnes or a shop like that.

The wear and tear on a school uniform shouldn't be hard wearing if the kids take them off when they get home instead of staying in them all day IMO

That must have been uncomfortable while sitting in class.

(Checks his own post for spelling mistakes before posting)

*giggles* · 25-08-2009 09:39PM

In my school, I had a summer job of covering old books with clear contact. I had to rip covers off in some cases and sellotape them back in place, they were such shambles. And by the end of the day, I was high off the glue from the contact. Back to the topic at hand, we were selling the Junior Cert's old books to the incoming 1st years for about €7 a book.

I got €300 for my troubles:)

TequilaMockingBird · 25-08-2009 10:33PM

Lovely. I can rant forever about this subject.

Primary School kids grow out of jumpers before they wear them out. Why can't they have a school crest badge instead of them having to be embroidered on? Jumpers cost a tenner, crest a fiver. Nonsense. Oh and jumpers from "school uniform shops", in my experience, are worse quality than Dunnes etc. I buy mine online from ASDA, M&S and Littlewoods.

Wtf is it with workbooks? The teachers don't let them write on them, so they spend valuable time in class copying the lesson onto a copy (+ pictures :rolleyes:) and if the school day isn't over by then, they might actually answer a few of the questions. Time, more than likely, will run out though so it will be sent home to do as homework. Just to add to the other hours work they have to do. Apparently this is so the Workbook can be sold on next year - EXCEPT the workbook is out of date the next year.

We actually got a letter with the book list this year saying "Do not cover or name books". Sorry? I've just forked out €100 on these books I'll do whatever the f*ck I like with them thanks very much.

I seem to get a letter every week looking for money for "Interactive Whiteboards". I dunno, you clever teachers, but how about writing a lesson and using a flippin' photocopier. You could save the money for the book rental, the new books (that you won't acknowledge that I own), the hours kids spend simply copying text, and TEACH STUFF! I pay you €30 a year for "Photocopying", it would be nice to see some, y'know, photocopying done with it.

Don't get me started on the €30 for "Heat and Light".

I'm an unemployed single parent. I was €7 over the income limit for the "Back to School Allowance". Fair enough, I can manage, but it really gets my goat every year how badly managed it is. I won't be trusting that lot to teach my child budgeting.

TequilaMockingBird · 25-08-2009 10:35PM

Oh, and Phasers, for a young person, has a wise head on her.

phic · 25-08-2009 11:39PM

phasers wrote: »

Oh also whoever sets out the english course are bastards because they constantly change what poets are on the course, making it impossible to get a second hand poetry book, which costs something like 30 euro I think... Every year has a new edition.

I think Irish may be similar, but they just rotate the syllabus. Everything is in the one book which makes it possible to keep for younger siblengs.

Feckin English, screwing us again :pac:

Poetry books are usually closer to 15 than 30, however if they included all the possible poets for every year, it'd probably be over 30.If they didn't rotate poets, the paper would be even easier to predict, and people would be complaining about that in the LC forum.
Just saying.

phasers · 25-08-2009 11:44PM

phic wrote: »

Poetry books are usually closer to 15 than 30, however if they included all the possible poets for every year, it'd probably be over 30.If they didn't rotate poets, the paper would be even easier to predict, and people would be complaining about that in the LC forum.
Just saying.

Complain about it being EASIER to predict?

I somehow doubt that :pac:

Also, damn my local bookshop is ripping people off.

boogle · 26-08-2009 12:01AM

I've taught in a designated-disadvantaged school and I can tell you some of my experiences of the book schemes. Every child in that school got their textbooks for free. Out of a class of 30 every year, I'd have to give out an extra 6/7 books to students (secondary) who had "misplaced theirs". LOADS of these kids came to class with no pens, calculators, copies, even schoolbags some days. I had the experience several times of ringing parents to ask if they could please buy their child a notebook or calculator or whatever (not big expensive items mind) because the child had been without one for a long time. The majority of the parents who I had to call about it actually would not buy the stuff because they said they were strapped for cash (or else would say yeah and the stuff was never bought). Now I would accept this as a sad reality if I didn't see the same kids in class every day with the most up-to-date phones, or blabbing about their new flatscreen tv for their room, or have them missing from school because they were on a sun holiday.
I actually bought copies, pens etc and gave them to some students who had nothing. I couldn't carry on in class with them if they had nothing with them.

The grant scheme was great for those genuinely in need, but MOST of the people in receipt of it did not need it. They were too selfish or ignorant to put their child's education before irrelevant material crap.

galwayrush · 26-08-2009 12:02AM

Another easy target.:rolleyes: No real surprise eh?

jumpguy · 26-08-2009 12:12AM

Must say as a student myself the prices are school books are pretty shocking. I'd love to know the profit margin on them. No way can it cost nearly 40 Euro to print a book and pay an author...per book.

jape · 26-08-2009 12:58AM

This thread is why I'm never having kids. Ugh. What a headache.

Dyr · 26-08-2009 01:00AM

Wertz wrote: »

I'm sure Folens and the rest of the cartel are filing for bankruptcy as we speak.

Oh wait, no they aren't. Business as usual again this year.
A state sponsored scam if ever there was...

The guy who founded folens was in the SS :pac:

Ivona Tinkle · 26-08-2009 02:03AM

Most of these books now are glorified colouring books thats all the kids seem to do is colour in and schools demand that you cover the books which in doing so adds to the price

I remember handing down all my school books to my siblings and they were covered to keep them protected knowing someone else was going to get it the next year

Tell me what is the point in covering up these "colouring books" when they will be only used for the year

The government has a lot to answer for

irishvamp90 · 26-08-2009 07:57AM

My family got mine and the 3 brothers books no bother growing,im sure they spent a fortune...the reason is because my parents did the basics in our life right,were very carful with money there werent spending silly money on cars,going to the pub,plasmas,2 holidays a year,planned their food shopping etc,didnt buy us crap even tho i asked,they did things simple and basic.They give out about books but they will go away and spent silly money on a pink mini suitcase thing for a schoolbag cause its pink,some of the younger mothers see their kids as playdolls

MagicMarker · 26-08-2009 09:03AM

irishvamp90 wrote: »

My family got mine and the 3 brothers books no bother growing,im sure they spent a fortune...the reason is because my parents did the basics in our life right,were very carful with money there werent spending silly money on cars,going to the pub,plasmas,2 holidays a year,planned their food shopping etc,didnt buy us crap even tho i asked,they did things simple and basic.They give out about books but they will go away and spent silly money on a pink mini suitcase thing for a schoolbag cause its pink,some of the younger mothers see their kids as playdolls

Ah yes, because all poor families can't afford books because they spend their money on nice cars/holidays and plasma screens.

Way to generalize, go you! :rolleyes:

laurashambles · 26-08-2009 09:17AM

sunnyside wrote: »

They need the books to match because if the teacher says "Let's start on page 60" page 60 needs to be the same for everybody. It would be a nightmare for the teacher if everyone had a different edition of the book. It doesn't affect grades at all. It's to maintain order in class.

But this is inevitably going to happen anyway, especially in English because everyone's got different editions of the novels and plays. Happens with past exam papers too. A lot of people had older editions of books where I went to school, none of the teachers ever made a fuss over it. They'd just tell you to go to chaper x, section y.

Cianos · 26-08-2009 09:42AM

Another wonderfully short sighted solution by our fine government, *applause. Should do wonders for the economy a few years down the line. Instead of just cutting the book grant, why don't they just introduce rental schemes in every school since they sound like they work well?

parker kent · 26-08-2009 09:56AM

Gummy Panda wrote: »

Can't schools run a book rental scheme?

My primary school and secondary school did. They bought the books in bulk and rented them out for the year as they would most likely be needed for the following years.

I know other secondary schools do book sales for students to sell their old books as well.

We had a similar scheme in our school, worked very well I thought. 50 euro for your books for the year.

Mitch Connor · 26-08-2009 09:58AM

on the news last night they were saying that schools aren't getting the money from the government to buy the books in order to rent them - one school (on the news) got 27k last year for books, nothing this year.

irishvamp90 · 26-08-2009 10:03AM

irishvamp90 wrote: »

My family got mine and the 3 brothers books no bother growing,im sure they spent a fortune...the reason is because my parents did the basics in our life right,were very carful with money there werent spending silly money on cars,going to the pub,plasmas,2 holidays a year,planned their food shopping etc,didnt buy us crap even tho i asked,they did things simple and basic.They give out about books but they will go away and spent silly money on a pink mini suitcase thing for a schoolbag cause its pink,some of the younger mothers see their kids as playdolls

Of course its not everyone,read my post,ok for example know a young couple 2 kids and she was telling me that their having a hard time getting money for school books etc?she doesnt work the last few years her choice,the partner is tradesman in and out of work.yet they still have to have their 2 cars and went on a 2 week holiday to santa ponza?...maybe sell one car,no holiday,stop spending a fortune on getting her hair and sunbeds done....if you cant afford things change your lifestyle can help alot

Dont be at yourself · 26-08-2009 10:05AM

I'm an unemployed single parent. I was €7 over the income limit for the "Back to School Allowance". Fair enough, I can manage, but it really gets my goat every year how badly managed it is. I won't be trusting that lot to teach my child budgeting.

There's no complaint then, really, is there? If you can manage, you don't need the Back To School Allowance.

Gran Hermano · 26-08-2009 11:17AM

Shakira-Brittney is aHopeChild living in a community severely affected by redundancy and the death of the celtic tiger. In Ireland the disease has impacted the entire social structure, creating a generation of impoverished and vulnerable children. Shakira-Brittney needs your assistance to help save her generation from the back-to-school crisis.
Unfortunately her parents did not realise they would have to support their
own children and not rely on hand-outs from the government. Having just
returned from their two week dole-holiday in Santa-Ponsa they are now
struggling as they must now buy her school books.

Shakira-Brittney has been reserved for you to sponsor within the next five minutes. Just click the "Sponsor Now" button above to become her sponsor right now and not only can you bail out her parents but you can
continue to support them financially over the coming year and even help pay for her christmas presents and communion dress!

MagicMarker · 26-08-2009 11:20AM

irishvamp90 wrote: »

Of course its not everyone,read my post,ok for example know a young couple 2 kids and she was telling me that their having a hard time getting money for school books etc?she doesnt work the last few years her choice,the partner is tradesman in and out of work.yet they still have to have their 2 cars and went on a 2 week holiday to santa ponza?...maybe sell one car,no holiday,stop spending a fortune on getting her hair and sunbeds done....if you cant afford things change your lifestyle can help alot

That's super, just super.

Once again, not everyone is like that. Ya dig?

Dyr · 26-08-2009 11:32AM

irishvamp90 wrote: »

My family got mine and the 3 brothers books no bother growing,im sure they spent a fortune...the reason is because my parents did the basics in our life right,were very carful with money there werent spending silly money on cars,going to the pub,plasmas,2 holidays a year,planned their food shopping etc,didnt buy us crap even tho i asked,they did things simple and basic.They give out about books but they will go away and spent silly money on a pink mini suitcase thing for a schoolbag cause its pink,some of the younger mothers see their kids as playdolls

Your parents should look for the money that they spent on your education back, they were gipped I reckon.

TequilaMockingBird · 26-08-2009 11:40AM

NekkidBibleMan wrote: »

There's no complaint then, really, is there? If you can manage, you don't need the Back To School Allowance.

No. There isn't. As I said, I can manage.

My complaint is about how badly organised the whole system is, how it doesn't need to cost parents so much money. It's wasteful.

As for the Shakiras with the huge plasmas and multiple holidays cliches; that's nothing to do with school books, it's to do with crap parenting.

Mossy Monk · 26-08-2009 12:13PM

irishvamp90 wrote: »

My family got mine and the 3 brothers books no bother growing,im sure they spent a fortune...the reason is because my parents did the basics in our life right,were very carful with money there werent spending silly money on cars,going to the pub,plasmas,2 holidays a year,planned their food shopping etc,didnt buy us crap even tho i asked,they did things simple and basic.They give out about books but they will go away and spent silly money on a pink mini suitcase thing for a schoolbag cause its pink,some of the younger mothers see their kids as playdolls

"What a load of ****" is what went through my mind reading that.

No book Grant this year

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