Comhaltaí nua bhord UnaG
November 21, 2012
Young people of Ireland declare daring strategy to improve state of the nation
November 20, 2012
Legislation for the X case, a referendum on abortion, and a new approach to teaching Irish are among a list of proposals contained in a declaration unveiled by young people at a presidency seminar on Saturday.
President Michael D Higgins and 100 people aged 17 to 26 convened in Áras an Uachtaráin to consider the drafting of the “Take Charge of Change” declaration, the culmination of a six-month nationwide engagement with more than 700 young people.
The process, initiated by Mr Higgins in May, also resulted in the publication of a report titled Being Young in Ireland 2012. The report formed the basis of Saturday’s declaration and reveals concerns about employment, the future of the economy, political reform, citizen participation and education for a full life.
In particular it highlights a desire among young people to see greater equality and a wider acceptance of diversity in Irish society. It recommends diversity training in schools and calls for the drafting of a Constitution which “represents all members of our society regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation”.
Vision
The declaration was delivered before Mr Higgins, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald and representatives of various State agencies.
It states: “Our vision for Ireland is [of] a secular, inclusive, multilingual, confident State with excellent and universally accessible education, health and social support systems; an Ireland of which we can be proud on the global stage; a place where people, arts, culture, heritage, sport and the Irish language are nurtured and developed.”
It outlines a vision of community co-operation, active citizenship and a “place where human rights are valued; where there is an acceptance and celebration of all citizens and where all people have equality of access, equality of opportunity in society and in the State”.
Afterwards the President said “any president of any country in the world would be enormously proud of the presentation”. He praised the focus on social justice, education, and the promotion of diversity.
“If anyone is in any doubt now about the myth that’s going around that young people are disengaged, disaffected and cynical, well there is your answer,” he added.
He expressed his wish that the proposals got a real, rapid and positive response at every level of politics and within institutions of State. “It must not be a lost conversation, a lost consultation,” he said.
The wide-ranging declaration called on legislators to extend equal marriage and adoption rights to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. It also urged the Government to increase its engagement with the diaspora by extending voting rights to emigrants.
The young people called for reform of the Leaving Certificate, saying the points system and emphasis on rote learning failed to prepare students for “active citizenship”.
Inspiring
Ms Fitzgerald said the submissions were inspiring. “Having your voice heard and bringing about change are not easily achieved,” she added.
She praised the participants for making a positive start in attempting to bring about change and promised to “work with the Government and the President to make sure full attention is given to your findings”.
She said she would study the views with a particular interest in drawing on them for the young people’s strategy, currently being drafted, and would pass on relevant proposals to the appropriate authorities.
Yesterday youth organisation spunout.iecalled on the Government to take action on the proposals or “risk alienating young people further from the democratic process”.
Declaration main proposals
Adopt a dual approach to teaching Irish at Leaving Certificate level: the first (compulsory) subject focused on speaking, the second (optional) subject focused on literature, driven by foundation of Gaelscoileanna.
Legislate for the X case.
Develop social opportunities for the Irish language.
Make marriage equality and adoption rights a reality.
Legislate for absentee voting for citizens outside of their constituencies and abroad.
Begin a campaign by young people to promote active citizenship.
Provide CAO points recognition for volunteering and community involvement.
Sustain and increase funding to the youth sector.
Reform Leaving Certificate (hands-on class participation) and opportunities for lifelong learning.
Empower local government so our national representatives do not engage in parochial politics.
Provide dedicated classes in primary and post primary schools to educating young people on diversity, tolerance and acceptance.
Provide more funding for special education needs and broaden IT curriculum at second level.
Pursue a secular Irish State.
Reform curriculum at second level to include greater emphasis on political education.
Create a graduate employment scheme based on relevant skills (not Job Bridge).
http://www.irishtimes.com/
President praises youth declaration
November 19, 2012
David Berry joined the President and other young people at Aras an Uachtarain for the first of a series of seminars.
Legislation for the X case, a referendum on abortion and a new approach to teaching Irish are among a list of proposals contained in a declaration unveiled yesterday at a presidency seminar for young people.
President Michael D Higgins and 100 young people convened in Áras an Uachtaráin to consider the drafting of the ‘Take Charge of Change’ declaration, the culmination of a six-month nationwide engagement with 700 or so 17 to 26-year-olds.
The process, initiated by President Higgins in May, also resulted in the publication of a report titled Being Young in Ireland 2012. The report formed the basis of yesterday’s declaration and reveals concerns about employment, the future of the economy, political reform, citizen participation and education for a full life.
In particular it highlights a desire among young people to see greater equality and a wider acceptance of diversity. It recommends diversity training in schools and calls for the drafting of a constitution which “represents all members of our society regardless of race, religion, gender or sexual orientation”.
The declaration was delivered before President Higgins, Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald and representatives from various State agencies at Áras an Uachtaráin.
It states: “Our vision for Ireland is a secular inclusive, multilingual, confident state with excellent and universally accessible education, health and social support systems; an Ireland of which we can be proud on the global stage; a place where people, arts, culture, heritage, sport and the Irish language are nurtured and developed.
It goes on to outline a vision of community co-operation, active citizenship and a “place where human rights are valued; where there is an acceptance and celebration of all citizens and where all people have equality of access, equality of opportunity in society and in the State.”
Afterwards the President said “any president of any country in the world would be enormously proud of the presentation.” In particular he praised the focus on social justice, education, and the promotion of diversity.
“If anyone is in any doubt now about the myth that’s going around that young people are disengaged, disaffected and cynical, well there is your answer,” he added.
He stressed that it was his wish as President that the proposals get a real, rapid and positive response at every level of politics and within institutions of State. “It must not be a lost conversation, a lost consultation,” he said.
The declaration called on legislators to allow for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender marriage and adoption rights.
The report outlined a belief that young people at home and abroad have a role to play in promoting Ireland and creating a positive image of the country. The declaration urged the government to increase its engagement with the diaspora by extending voting rights to Irish people living abroad.
The young people called for reform of the Leaving Certificate, saying the points system and emphasis on rote learning fails to prepare students for “active citizenship”.
Ms Fitzgerald said the submissions were wonderful, positive and inspiring. “Having your voice heard and bringing about change are not easily achieved,” she added.
She praised the participants for making a positive start in attempting to bring about change and promised to “work with the Government and the President to make sure full attention is given to your findings.”
She said she would study the views with a particular interest in drawing upon them for the young people’s strategy, which is currently being drafted. She said she would also pass on any other relevant proposals to the appropriate authorities.
A summary of the Being Young and Irish Report realesed yesterday afternoon identifies the following themes as being of particular concern to the participants:
Employment, enterprise, social security, concern with the economy : The participants expressed concern about graduate job opportunities and the long-term impact of Ireland’s banking debt. They called for “the economy to be stimulated, with an emphasis on job creation and the need to integrate welfare and social protection more closely with inclusivity, enterprise culture and social solidarity”.
Political reform : A perceived disconnect between young people and politicians needs to be addressed. Respondents felt greater engagement and communication is a responsibility of both young people and politicians.
Education : The emphasis on rote learning in the Leaving Certificate was criticised by many who felt secondary education fails to prepare students for “active citizenship”. The introduction of university fees was unanimously rejected, while there was “an overwhelming sense that access to third level should be free of cost”.
Equality : One of the most prominent submissions. There was a heavy emphasis on the need for respect for individual rights and freedom of expression.
Involve young people : There is a prevailing sense that young people are not being listened to and that, consequently, “many opportunities are missed by those who ignore the youth”. Participants identified a need for a “structured forum where the youth voice can be promoted, encouraged and fostered”.
Being positive : “Young people expressed a strong need for optimism in envisaging an Ireland of the future and a sense of disillusionment with the negativity they experience around them.”
Health : Overall, respondents believe the healthcare system is “wrong”. Submissions on mental health, suicide, and mental health services featured, as did issues of alcohol, smoking and drug use. One participant noted: “Too many people are dying because they aren’t aware of the help that’s there and too often they can’t get the help they need when they look.”
Community and civil society : Young people believe Ireland lost some of its sense of community during the boom years. They believe community spirit can empower individuals and contribute to Ireland’s recover.
Identity as Irish : The economic situation, unemployment and emigration have raised the question of what constitutes Irish identity. Young people said students, graduates and the diaspora had a role to play in promoting Ireland. The need to incorporate the Irish Language into everyday life was also underlined.
http://www.irishtimes.com/
Weak response to pilot survey on parents’ preferred patrons of schools
November 14, 2012
Parents have been slow to engage with a Department of Education survey on their preferred choice of patron for primary schools.
Figures released by the Department of Education indicate that less than 40 per cent of parents took part in an online survey in five pilot areas. The actual results of the surveys will not be known until next week.
These surveys are the first step in a process in which the Catholic Church could be divested of control of schools in 44 areas. Despite the low turnout, the department insists there was “an encouraging level of interest from parents”. It says the pilot surveys will allow it to identify the level of parental demand for a wider diversity of school choice in the selected areas. The remaining 39 areas – where there is a stable population and demand for diversity of school types – are to be surveyed next year.
The survey was confined to parents living in the area, parents of pre-school children and of children in primary school. A code of conduct – worked out in consultation with the patron bodies – limited excessive spending by any one side. This limited the capacity of patrons to alert parents to the survey through public relations.
Number of responses
Five pilot areas
Arklow: 384 responses, representing 706 of the 1,965 pupils in primary schools in the area.
Castlebar: 465 responses, representing 932 of the 2,261 pupils in the area.
Tramore: 276 responses , representing 563 of the 1,644 pupils in the area.
Trim: 300 responses, representing 588 of the 1,540 pupils in the area.
Whitehall: 546 responses, representing 987 of the 2,449 pupils in the area.
www.irishtimes.com
Beirt as Corcaigh le bua an dlí agus na díospóireachta
November 14, 2012
Do Gaelscoileanna amount to educational apartheid?
November 6, 2012
My husband wants our daughter to go to the local Gaelscoil, but neither of us is great at Irish.
He seems to think it will give her the upper hand in learning languages. I’m not so sure. I do know some parents who have openly said they send their children to Gaelscoileanna so they don’t have to deal with non-nationals. Seems crazy. baby pickle, magicmum.com
I don’t think Gaelscoileanna should necessarily be fee-paying, but I do think that the same level of education should be afforded any child with special needs as is afforded to a child with no special needs. I have encountered many people who are sending their child to a Gaelscoil or Church of Ireland school as they won’t be associating with members of the Travelling community and, in the case of the Gaelscoil, are less likely to have someone with special needs. ackee123, magicmum.com
I’ve definitely come across the reasons outlined in the [‘Irish Times’] article for choosing a Gaelscoil. I’ve also come across people with a love for the language and a desire for their children to enjoy Irish in a way they didn’t at school. There are good Gaelscoileanna in our area. We ruled them out in part because it would be hypocritical for us to send our children, given how little we feel for the language. novbaby31, magicmum.com
In our Gaelscoil we have six special-needs assistants, numerous children with every kind of disability, both learning and physical, several support teachers and numerous families where one or both parents were not born in Ireland. Blood. Boiling! yurm, magicmum.com
www.irishtimes.com
Scéalta móra agus dánta beaga do léitheoirí óga
October 31, 2012
Gaelscoileanna ‘apartheid’ – Letter in the Irish Times
October 30, 2012
A chara, – The “To Be Honest” column by a parent (Education Today, October 23rd) was such a misrepresentation of Irish-medium schools that it cannot be allowed to go unchallenged. Its publication in the Education section of The Irish Times lends it an authority that is very damaging to the public perception of Irish-medium schools.
Irish-medium schools are united by their language ethos, but as diverse as any other arbitrary grouping of schools in every other way. A gaelscoil may operate under any patron body and may be denominational or not. Gaelscoileanna exist in every county in Ireland including Northern Ireland and they serve populations as diverse as their geographical locations; small towns, socially disadvantaged suburbs, rural communities, city centres or a “middle-class area of South Dublin” – wherever the local community has campaigned for a gaelscoil to be established.
Irish-medium schools are open to all pupils regardless of their linguistic and social background or their level of ability. They are as willing and well-equipped as any English-medium school to cater for all pupils’ educational needs. Communicating this to parents is made difficult when opinion pieces such as the aforementioned are published without information of substance on what an Irish-medium school is and how school enrolment policies work.
Parents and patrons alike have been calling for plurality and diversity in our education system for years. To have an inflammatory and misleading opinion piece about schools of a particular ethos published in the paper of record at a time when the Department of Education Skills has committed to providing for parental choice in the form of the surveys on diversity of patronage runs counter to everything the education community has been working towards.
The column did not recognise that many Irish-medium schools face considerable challenges. More than a third of Irish-medium schools are without a permanent school building; 39 per cent of primary and 36 per cent of post-primary Irish-medium schools. Ten per cent of Irish-medium schools are recognised as DEIS schools by the Department of Education Skills and are focused on addressing and prioritising the educational needs of young people from disadvantaged communities. That the demand for new gaelscoileanna remains high in spite of the difficulties the established schools often face speaks volumes about how parents have faith in the immersion-education model and community-led education.
While it’s true that most of the parents who choose Irish-medium education for their children do not speak Irish themselves, it does a great disservice to the parents of the 45,000 children who are attending Irish-medium schools at present to assume that their decision to enrol their child in a gaelscoil was made for elitist reasons. It does an even greater disservice to those parents who have chosen Irish-medium education for their children despite having neither Irish nor English as a first language, parents who appreciate that their children will start school on an even footing with other pupils who will also be learning through a language that is new to most of them, in a school where linguistic diversity is truly valued.
The story of how Irish-medium schools have grown and are flourishing is one rooted in community spirit and a sense of common purpose and the schools deserve to be celebrated for all they have achieved. – Is mise,
NÓRA Ní LOINGSIGH,
Acting CEO,
GAELSCOILEANNA TEO,
Institiúid Oideachais Marino,
Ascaill Uí Ghríofa,
Baile Átha Cliath 9.
www.irishtimes.com
Gaelscoileanna ‘apartheid’
October 25, 2012
Sir, In the “To Be Honest” column by a parent ( Education Today, October 23rd), a link is made, in the headline no less, between Irish-language education and “educational apartheid”.
Gaeloideachas is not in any way offered to people by dint of an accident of birth, but rather is open to anyone in this State who wishes to do so, based almost exclusively on a first-come, first-served basis.
That this system is often cynically manipulated in a self-serving manner by people seeking to give their children some perceived “better start” in life is not the fault of the State, or the system, nor is it deserving of the type of hyperbole inherent in the “apartheid” assertion.
This sort of unnecessarily emotive comparison is not worthy of a place in your newspaper, and it would give cause to wonder if a little more time spent listening in a school educating through any linguistic medium might perhaps have served the anonymous author better in the long run.
– Yours, etc,
Conchubhair Mac Lochlainn
East Road, Dublin 3.
A Chara,
Oh, God! Why does The Irish Times allow such badly researched opinion pieces about Gaelscoileanna? Once or twice a year your newspaper trots out some elephant to trample on the blossoming flowerbed of Gaelicmedium education.
“Gaelscoileanna are getting away with the worst kind of language apartheid.” At least 99 per cent of the pupils who attend Gaelscoileanna are bilingual by the end of the primary cycle. It is the English-medium primary schools that are guilty of language apartheid by allowing pupils to continue through the education cycle badly instructed in Gaeilge (one of the three core subjects). By producing an annual bilingual figure of less than 10 per cent, English-medium primary schools are putting pupils at an immediate disadvantage when beginning the secondary cycle.
“The language puts up a natural force-field that deflects students from various constituencies.” Gaelscoileanna operate an openarms policy and all constituencies are catered for. In Gaelscoil Chluainín, Co Liatroma, there are 17 nationalities, with all socio-economic groups and learning abilities represented, and this in a school of only 83 pupils.
“Parents are choosing Gaelscoileanna because their children will be educated among citizens from well- to- do backgrounds.” In Dublin alone, children are attending Gaelscoileanna in the predominantly working-class areas of Ballymun, Tallaght, Finglas and Inchicore.
“Gaelcholáistí give preference to children from Gaelscoileanna.” Diligent Dublin parents have had their efforts to establish more Gaelcholáistí continuously thwarted by the Department of Education with the effect that in Dublin there are only 2,000 places available in Gaelcholáistí (secondary), while there are 6,000 places in Gaelscoileanna (primary). This means that many bilingual pupils a year cannot continue their schooling through Irish, thus making it more difficult for children who haven’t yet been taught to spell in Irish to get a place.
The only “shame” attached to education through the medium of Irish is that only a small proportion of children are benefiting from this opportunity.
– Is mise,
Rossa Ó Snodaigh
Mainéar Scríneadh Scrínidh, Cluainín Uí Ruairc, Contae Liatroma.
www.irishtimes.com
Schools under new patrons ‘by September’
October 23, 2012
Patrons to change if survey shows demand, says Quinn
PRIMARY SCHOOLS could be under new patronage by next September if sufficient numbers of parents decide they want it, Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has said.
Parents in five areas where there are a considerable number of primary schools will be given that choice through an online survey.
The parents of both preschool and primary-school children in Arklow, Castlebar, Tramore, Trim and Whitehall are being asked to identify their preferred school patron. They will be asked to complete surveys stating their preferences for the type of local school they would like their children to attend. The results will be presented to the Catholic Church, which has said that if enough parents in certain areas decide they want a different patron for a school, they will hand over that patronage.
The move is the first step in a process i n which schools in 44 areas could be divested of the control of the Catholic Church. The areas in question are those where there is a stable population and a clear demand for a greater diversity of school types. The other 39 areas will be surveyed from next month.
Mr Quinn said the purpose of the survey of the five areas was to ensure the online process was carried out properly before it was extended to other areas. He expects the results will be available by the end of the year and the first change of patronage will happen “next September or the following September” if everything goes according to agreed procedures.
Fr Michael Drumm, chairman of the Catholic Schools Partnership, said they would abide by the survey results, even though they would have preferred a paper rather than an online survey because many parents do not have access to the internet.
“We would of course facilitate change where there is real demand for it,” he told RTÉ Radio’s News at One programme.
He said that if only a small number of parents respond to the survey, the partnership would take that as a signal that the rest were happy with the status quo. He also stressed the survey could not be regarded as a plebi-scite or a vote on future patronage.
The National Parents Council urged parents to participate in the survey so the results could truly reflect the wishes of the local communities. Educate Together chief executive Paul Rowe described the survey as “a milestone in providing for diversity in Irish education”.
He predicted that it would lead to the transfer of patronage of a small number of Catholic schools to Educate Together where there is parental demand to do so. He said parents in the five areas questioned would be “greatly encouraged” their preferred school type may not be far away with the Minister’s announcement. The bodies which have expressed interest in becoming patrons of divested schools in the five areas are An Foras Pátrúnachta, the patron body for Gaelscoileanna in Ireland; Educate Together; VECs; the National Learning Network; and the Redeemed Christian Church of God.
The survey process will be overseen by the independent New Schools Establishment Group. The Department of Education will publish detailed reports on the survey outcomes. If the surveys identify demand for alternative patronage in these areas, the department will explore with the existing patrons the transfer of patronage of schools.
The survey is available at www.education.ie.
www.irishtimes.com
