What's the talk of education?
SUSPENSION OF TEACHERS’ ALLOWANCES FOR EXTRA QUALIFICATIONS
What is going to be done about this now???? New teachers need their union NOW! – Mark Gerard Lochlann, Facebook.com
Typical – out of touch teachers unions objecting to “allowance” cuts to people not yet working in teaching profession - @DesBod
Everyone's pay should reflect their qualifications, including teachers. However, teachers should not be allowed to teach subjects that they are not qualified to teach, and the issue of teachers' performance appraisal needs to be addressed and should be a part of all teachers' contracts. – Peter Maxwell, thejournal.ie
It is another attack on vulnerable young teachers. The government should also withdraw allowances paid to their less vulnerable older brethren too . . . – fatlarry2011, broadsheet.ie
CUTS TO SMALL SCHOOLS
Small schools are grossly inefficient in terms of their running costs etc. They just do not make any economic sense. – Aindriu, politics.ie
Wise idiots who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Ever get the sense that the education system will be turned into the HSE ? – Analyzer, politics.ie
Look at it this way, then. Why provide some kids with the benefit of a really low pupil-teacher ratio and have others in at 40 per class. As I mentioned, you can make an exception for offshore islands, but otherwise, there's no call for unfairness like that. – locke, politics.ie
This is a direct attack on gaelscoils, minority faith schools, and rural schools with under 86 pupils. - Terri Brosnan, Facebook.com
PROPOSED NEW TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITIES
At a time when the state is seeking to impose severe cuts in health and welfare spending and government bodies charged with re-skilling the workforce such as FAS are judged not fit for purpose, diverting scarce resources to a white elephant project consisting of political goodies for government and opposition TDs alike demonstrates a complete contempt for the electorate – Studenty, Cork
CUTS TO SPECIAL NEEDS: ONE TEACHER’S PROBLEM
I have a little boy in my class who is autistic. He came with the paperwork stating his need for an SNA and resource hours. After a number of months he got some of the resource hours but no sign of an SNA. His behaviour is both dangerous to himself and to the other children in the class. I have pointed this out to the principal with very clear examples of behaviour to illustrate each point. My principal does not dispute what I'm saying. My question is simple: if an accident occurs in the class, and I have clearly stated that the risk at this point is major, who is accountable, and how can I protect myself? – Sweetpea101, boards.ie
Believe me, you will be messed around by the powers that be until there is a serious incident. Determined action is necessary. When I was working in special education as a teacher what I discovered was that under the Health and Safety Acts no employee is obliged to work in a dangerous environment. If you have an unpredictable child who has assaulted someone or is deemed likely to assault you, you can refuse to work in that area.
Check out the Health and Safety Acts; contact the school health and safety rep, your union rep, and inform your principal that failing a proper resolution of this problem you will refuse to work in that classroom. You will get an SNA, and very soon. I had a situation like this in my career which was rapidly resolved in this way. – iolar, boards.ie
I would get in contact with your union directly. – ET, boards.ie
