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WRAPPED IN SCARVES and hats as they paced the pavement of Stephen’s Green this morning, the staff of Loreto College were quick to point out that today’s strike wasn’t a ‘day off’ for either teachers or students.
“We would have given our students work to do today — which we will all have to correct tomorrow. So it’s not a holiday for us … it will actually cause more work,” Irish and French teacher Jill Cunningham told TheJournal.ie.
We won’t be slacking off.
You have to feel sorry for Loreto on the Green sometimes.
The school’s location, bang in the centre of Dublin, means it’s often the first port of call for reporters, whenever teachers go on strike.
At least one photographer called by during the short time we were down there this morning — and we wouldn’t be surprised if at least some of the faces featured here pop up on this evening’s TV bulletins.
Not everyone was keen to talk or have their photo appear. Others — well used to the attention, no doubt — were happy to speak out in defence of the day-long action.
“We know it’s disruptive but for over two years we have been bringing this issue to the attention of the Department of Eduction,” business teacher Jane Kelly said.
Its only when we took drastic action and took strike action that anyone has started to listen to what our concerns are.
There’s been criticism of the timing of today’s action from some parents’ and students’ groups. Ibec, meanwhile, has called on the Government not to row back on the planned reforms, and ISME — which represents small and medium businesses — even suggested teachers should be prevented legally from going on strike.
The Loreto teachers, however, were having none of it.
The move was “for the long term good of education,” Cunningham insisted.
It’s impossible to be objective when you’ve taught children for three years, and then be expected to mark their results. You cannot possibly look at an exam script and actually just leave what you know about the student to one side.
“The whole new junior cycle is very much actually in response to the likes of what Ibec are suggesting — so collaborative learning, [and] we’re putting maths and sciences to the forefront.
But actually, we’re not willing to put the holistic approach to education to the background.
As to whether their students — some of whom are facing into State exams in a matter of months — would be kept busy all day today with their assigned work.
“That’s up to them, really.”
Passing drivers issued the occasional beep of support for the teachers, as the small group marched up and down (and up and down) in near freezing conditions.
Of the school’s 50-odd teaching staff, the vast majority are taking part in today’s picket — apart from “a small handful” of non-union members, one staff member said.
In line with what’s happening at actions up and down the country, the women are organising their day into shifts — with everyone expected to spend at least a few hours clutching centrally-issued union placards, and dealing with overtures from passing members of the Fourth Estate.
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As a parent . Fully support the teachers in this. What we had worked and should be kept the same. What hope have they of this government listening though. Going by article this morning they don’t even listen in the dail prefer tweeting.
When will the media and the government get the message. We’re disgust with how they conduct themselves and how they treat the people that keep Ireland going. Will it take a complete shutdown of the country before they listen us?
Standing still is going backwards. The “what we have works” excuse is not good enough.
We should alway be endeavouring for progress. Teacher seem unwilling to move on this at all. Government have moved from 100% to 40%, teachers didn’t budge.
It’s a least worth running the proposals on a test bases to she how they work in practice.
But this is not progress mark it’s regress. The UK tried out the same system as is being proposed here and scrapped it because it simply didn’t work. No fear of the government paying heed though. Plough on ahead regardless and f**k the consequences, sure the next government can fix the mess. It’s ridiculous stuff
This “40%” is just like the €100 water grant. Just an opening deal to get you to sign up and then their real intentions will become clear. Either an exam is objective or it’s not. It’s ironic that they are messing with the exam system, one of the few state structures to actually retain public trust.
FFS – does anyone of the strikers know what this strike is about? It is not about “Students Deserve Quality”.
Here is the report which recommended junior cert reforms:
http://ncca.ie/framework/doc/NCCA-Junior-Cycle.pdf
It was made in consultation with the following participants:
http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Post-Primary_Education/Junior_Cycle/Junior_cycle_developments/list_of_submissions.html
The groups that were included are the unions which are going on strike today, every other teachers union, the parents councils, employers, individual schools, pupils groups and teachers.
The department of education started implementing these recommendations (again – assessed recommendations from teachers).
Keeping it simple: We need to reform Junior Cert, like we did previously with Intermediate and Group certificates; we went through a process and academically produced recommendations. now these recommendations are being implemented, one of the contributors has decided to strike for NO CHANGE, rather than implement changes that they contributed to.
The only missing part in the unions argument is – what does it take to not strike? And the only answer is no change. Don’t start with not listening – if no one is listening, tell me who contributed to the recommendations, and who is trying to implement them?
@Valerie
If the unions agreed to the Department’s proposal and then the Department broke its word, then the unions could ballot for industrial action again, Therefore, it would be impossible for the Department to get rid of Junior Cycle external assessment under the radar.
@Al
Actually, education is a devolved matter in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland is keeping the present system and Scotland is moving towards continuous assessment.
Continuous assessment isnt the issue (in case you hadnt noticed). The issue is who corrects work and how best to ensure that the correcting is standardised to ensure fairness
@andrew
http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0122/674732-teachers/
‘John McDonagh who is also a teacher in Maynooth said: “It’s having an affect on teachers, they are forfeiting a second days pay, because they believe in the principle of fair and accountable marking, and that the trust that the Irish people have in the education at the moment.
“That is going to be sacrificed if we are marking our own children for example – I teach my own children,” he said.’
Maybe Mr McDonagh’s concern and other concerns would be addressed if the unions made a compromise to go back into negotiations. How can the unions expect the Department to re-enter negotations if they won’t budge?
Andrew , who better than the teachers. They are enjoying a day off. Good luck NI. They cannot presume to set Policy. That is for their employers. No sympathy.
100% support the teachers on this.
As a teacher, we are in loco parentis in the classroom, in the place of parents. Imagine the relationships built over the hours, months and years spent between teachers and their students. Thus, as a parent wouldn’t be expected to be objective about one of their own children, teachers cannot be expected to do same. We simply want the best for our students.
Lon. You are not loco parentis, you are not taking the place of parents for the few hours that you are their teacher. You are supposed to teach them how to learn, and particularly how to learn a subject. In comparison, I manage a large team of individuals who I have to get the most out of, and ensure they are competent to complete the tasks that are set for them. I have been working with some every day for the past 15 years. While i want them, and our teams, to succeed, I am not their parent, and neither are you. Know your job.
The government are anti people,they don’t care what you want, your not getting it.They have shown time and again,that they do not listen.Come Election Day we will clear their ears,with a resounding NO,and sack the lot of them
To be replaced with similar people, who we’ll come to hate in 3 years, say a resounding NO to, and sthe cycle continues……
It’s not a holiday for them cos they get 3 months holiday a year as is anyway
If’s it so good, would you not think of training to be a teacher yourself?
Hardly worth it since you all ring-fenced your own salaries and then pulled the ladder up behind yourselves forcing new entrants onto a lower pay scale.
Socialism, Irish style.
Because not everyone wants to leech the system.
Bravo, Colin. There is a massive pool of talented junior teachers that can’t get on the ladder as there is no flexibility to equal out salaries across the board (one lifer teacher has the salary of 3 recent graduates). Anyone would jump at the change to join the ranks, but it is a completely closed shop.
Nailed it Alien8!
I haven’t noticed any responses to this particular point.
The only profession to have more holidays than teachers are politicians. Who, as it happens, are in a lot of cases ex-teachers. Strange that isn’t it.
Excellent observation Michael
Dont forget the unemployed who are on permanent holiday
Unemployment is not a holiday. But paying virtually not tax because you are an incredibly wealthy multi national corporation, is.
I don’t see why people direct their anger at the least powerful people in our society rather than the people that are really destroying it.
Dont forget the wealthy who are on tax holidays
Dont forget the bankers on holiday from justice in the USA and the UK
Don’t forget (who can) Madonna’s smash hit ‘Holiday’
You forgot Cliff Richard’s Summer Holiday.
Yes. You’re right. Cliff must have been a teacher at some stage. A great man for singing about holidays
And, funny that you can susbtitute ‘Jan O’Sullivan’ for ‘summer holiday’ in a big singalong. How could they have known this when they wrote the song?
We’re all going on a Jan O’Sullivan
No more working for a week or two
Fun and laughter on our Jan O’Sullivan
No more worries for me or you
For a week or two
And don’t even get me started on Gregory Peck and his Roman Holiday.
Teachers strikes for 45 minutes then go home, happy days. I tough I know what’s best for my children as a parent instead of a government employee. You don’t see parents striking for this “bad legislation for the children”
You don’t get protest for good changes. If it was bad for children, we would be on the street. The silence from (us) parents should show teaching unions how much we think this change will impact or children.
@Juan, You should have listened harder in school and you may have a better understanding of this (and English for that matter). Happy days, I think not, Teachers are forfeiting a day’s pay to show the government that this is a bad idea and to protect the future for “your children”.
It’s not a holiday. Sad eyes and deaf ears.
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