Brian Fleming
@bflemingauthor
author | former principal | educational consultant | researcher I education | history | equity
Fine article
Reclaiming the purpose of Irish education Delighted to have my piece on the proliferation of grind schools published today. Thanks to @irishexaminer irishexaminer.com/opinion/commen…
So far, I have seen no evidence that wellbeing 'classes' actually produce positive outcomes. Teachers are not mental health professionals. It seems to me this is just a gesture to cover-up the inadequacy of the level of resources provided to support services for schools.
The fact that it is eroding core curriculum teaching and learning time is also concerning. The idea that more time will be spent on WB than on English, Maths, etc, is counter-intuitive. Literacy and numeracy skills impact students' opportunities - fact.
Maybe they think that not everything important in an education system can be measured.
Whenever people talk and/or complain about the Irish education system and make comparisons with the education system in Finland 🇫🇮, just show them this. #edchatie
Yes, good choice of course but, if the last NEC is anything to go by, the choice of Secretary General is of more consequence (in that case, John Coolahan RIP). Maybe the plan is to have @annelooney fill both roles.
It will be interesting to see how this develops in the coming year and I hope the teacher voice is well represented at the proposed Education Convention. Teachers feel very connected to and deeply committed to improving our education system - it’s not just a job. A good move by…
They have been relying on demographic change to resolve the problem all along. It won't do so any time soon. Cost of supply is big but not the only such issue. Yes, the closure of Sion Hill about 20 years ago was very bad for Home Ec tchr supply and is only now being rectified.
Think the DoE sees the current demographic bulge of younger people as temporary as birth rates are falling and this will solve the teacher supply issue. Also new teacher ed courses in Home Ec & others will increase supply. Big issue is cost of accommodation in Dublin.
Pleased that the letter from @JudithHarford & me is in today's IT. Sadly, I think it is reasonable to assume that the teacher supply crisis will last well into the next decade. This is an appalling way to treat our younger citizens and a serious insult to the teaching profession.
Another letter re the teacher shortage from @bflemingauthor and @JudithHarford in today’s @IrishTimes “How long must the public wait for the Government to acknowledge the catastrophic impact of the teacher supply crisis and to take meaningful action to address it?” #edchatie
If there was any doubt before now Ringrose played his way into the test team and he deserves it. Good match, awful referee.
Well...how about this 😮💨🦁 Watch every game live on @SkySports. #Lions2025
Depends on what one means by activist.
Ha! Having significant influence / activist approach is by no means a strong positive correlate of openness to change 😁Often the reverse.
It seems reasonable to assume that Helen McEntee, as party deputy leader, had some significant influence on the portfolio assigned to her. In that case, an activist approach to her role might be expected but only time will tell.
Am I being uncharacteristically positive, or is @Education_Ire becoming more open to ideas & change? I feel that there’s a recent shift. #edchatie irishtimes.com/ireland/educat…
Not convinced about the ex quota AP as schools vary in their approach to taking responsibility for providing suitable placements.
There should be an ex quota assistant principal Position in every school for to support school placement students and NQTs. The Droichead model of hours to schools does not work as they are not granted until after timetables are created. Every cooperating teacher should be paid
You should have been provided with an experienced and gifted co-operating teacher in your school placements. I sometimes wonder if enough thought is put into this part of the process.
All I learned about teaching was from observations from my own teachers/lecturers, (who was good and who wasn’t) and then trial and error. I wish I had had a really competent, experienced teacher offering me guidance in the classroom… there would have been fewer errors 😬
Seamus Coleman. 👏 A Liverpool fan has shared this story online of meeting Everton's Seamus Coleman at Anfield last Friday night to pay tribute to Diogo Jota. We're privileged to have him as Ireland captain.
If South Dublin County Council located the local library in a proper building his collection could be displayed within the immediate area.
Dont miss #Palmerstown's own Ray Moore's extraordinary collection of homemade quilts, tapestries and wall hangings on display this month in Ballyfermot Library | Echo.ie share.google/rYuOkHyysgFYcK…
DCU centre that found smartphone bans ineffective previously received €2.4m from social media and tech firms buff.ly/cPwCAzA
The Sahlberg Report (2012) expressed surprise re the absence of data on tchr supply/demand & recommended one be created as a matter of urgency. 13 years later the MInister announces that a comprehensive workforce plan is in development. That sums up the teacher supply crisis.
Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee TD, has today, Friday 27 June, announced the continuation of a number of measures which the Department has operated in recent years to assist schools in accessing additional teaching and substitute hours. gov.ie/en/department-…
Interesting comment. We know that AACs favour those who have family and other resources to the disadvantage of others less well off. Our system is seriously unbalanced on a class basis. We've been doing that for years so it's OK to tilt the balance further.
The Dept of Education (@Education_Ire) would like to point out that AI is probably already being used, and they're ok with that.
Plenty of interesting and very important commitments in Education Plan 2025. However, it is clear that no fundamental steps are planned to tackle the teacher supply crisis. The pattern of people teaching subjects without the necessary quals will continue into the next decade.
This great quote by Hannah Arendt is circulating online again. Rightly so!
I'm happy to nominate him. I'm following since 1955 but, living in Dublin, it is mostly on the radio, initially, and then on TV. My boyhood hero Liam Whelan RIP
How about my 80 yr old Dad? Followed you since 1956. You forced him to move last season, he can't properly see game where we are now. You then upped his season tkt price by 30%. He's still renewed. You don't deserve his support