Good luck to the PS workers.

[uriah]

A friend was telling me today about how his sons teacher was consistently absent for most of the last year which is badly affecting his son’s education, he said about 10 days sick just since Christmas!!.

Apparently the teacher is busy on lots of radio programs talking about her kids, twins called Jedwerd or something like that?

Are you not worried that you are making allegations about an identifiable teacher based on hearsay? If I were that person, I'd be consulting my solicitor.

BTW, if your friend's son had fully qualified teachers teaching him, that is all one can expect.

[Pabilito]

Are you not worried that you are making allegations about an identifiable teacher based on hearsay? If I were that person, I'd be consulting my solicitor.

BTW, if your friend's son had fully qualified teachers teaching him, that is all one can expect.

Not at all, I'm only saying what my friend told me and I never identified anyone??

Anyway, doesn't matter what kind of qualifications an absent teacher has!..

Are you suggesting that a teachers qualifications alone will produce results in the absence of the teacher?

[toughbutfair]

Re your first paragraph, TBF, teachers more than anyone understand the importance of "chipping in" and going that extra mile. When I was a young wan, I got good grades because one dedicated teacher, knowing I was from a poor family, gave me extra classes. In return I do the same. My son's teachers did the same for him (the ungrateful little idler). Most of the new stuff in education happens because teachers train themselves over weekends etc. And then train each other. In a disadvantaged school, you end up having to parent the child. You do everything for them.
Believe me, you do not understand the meaning of doing "ad hoc" jobs until you teach.

But, although I always seem to be in the school at night---awards evening, prize-giving, Leaving Cert farewell ceremony, concert----I am unhappy being contracted to meet parents formally at night (We met them after school since benchmarking, up until the present "difficulties"). It belittles the job in some way, and just like with the Inspection system, once its conceded, mountains of time-consuming paperwork---apart from teachers' own extensive class records for these meetings---will ensue.

Imagine coming home from work, eating, showering, and then going out at 8 o'clock to meet any other worker at night in their office or place of work.---insurance, dentist, broker. It just does not happen.

Of course it is awkward for parents. To help with this, teachers will always see a parent individually at a mutually convenient time. I have to get time off to see my own kids' teacher, (and orthodontist and optician), and I know its a nuisance. Teachers try, otherwise, to respect parents' time. In my school if you are absolutely unavoidably absent ( dead? dying?) for parent---teacher meeting, you must send a written report to the parents who have gone to the trouble of coming in.

I would never give stick to a minister, or anyone else, for taking holidays. Politicians work hard and are perfectly entitled to holidays. Nobody should be at anyone's beck and call. That way lies exploitation. It is human nature to abuse or exploit those who put no value on their time. Teachers who coach sport at weekends, or run school trips, will have ample experience of that.

I thought that was a great post. I have no problem admitting when somebody knows more than me, so here is an honest question.

You mentioned you taught in a poor school and that required more work. I don't get that. I grew up wearing my much older brother's clothes, patches on jeans etc but I just listened in school and did my homework. How does not having money mean the teacher needs to spend time.

Again- I am not trying to shove my right wing views at you - I just don't see why a kid from a poor area needs more time to learn something than a kid from a rich area.

[uriah]

I thought that was a great post. I have no problem admitting when somebody knows more than me, so here is an honest question.

You mentioned you taught in a poor school and that required more work. I don't get that. I grew up wearing my much older brother's clothes, patches on jeans etc but I just listened in school and did my homework. How does not having money mean the teacher needs to spend time.

Again- I am not trying to shove my right wing views at you - I just don't see why a kid from a poor area needs more time to learn something than a kid from a rich area.

There are many kinds of poverty.
Some children can come from homes in which there is a scarcity of money but no shortage of the things that matter to a child. They are the lucky ones.

Sometimes children do not have books, a lunch, somewhere to study at home, security, safety, someone who cares whether they study or not.

Sometimes, believe it or not, school is a haven. It might be the only place in which some children feel valued, secure, encouraged. And this has nothing to do with material wealth.

[staunch ff]

Rang Revenue today to be told I could not put me through due to industrial action. At least I will be able to claim the cost of the call on tax !

Doesnt industrial action have to be official ?

[Pabilito]

There are many kinds of poverty.
Some children can come from homes in which there is a scarcity of money but no shortage of the things that matter to a child. They are the lucky ones.

Sometimes children do not have books, a lunch, somewhere to study at home, security, safety, someone who cares whether they study or not.

Sometimes, believe it or not, school is a haven. It might be the only place in which some children feel valued, secure, encouraged. And this has nothing to do with material wealth.

Would you not instill a "If I were that person, I'd be consulting my solicitor"
value?

Of course that "has nothing to do with material wealth"..

[toughbutfair]

There are many kinds of poverty.
Some children can come from homes in which there is a scarcity of money but no shortage of the things that matter to a child. They are the lucky ones.

Sometimes children do not have books, a lunch, somewhere to study at home, security, safety, someone who cares whether they study or not.

Sometimes, believe it or not, school is a haven. It might be the only place in which some children feel valued, secure, encouraged. And this has nothing to do with material wealth.

good post - I was from a financially poor family but a really happy home that just expected us all to do our best and go to university.

My question to you, how can a government change the parents that pass their expectations onto children?

[gatsbygirl20]

I thought that was a great post. I have no problem admitting when somebody knows more than me, so here is an honest question.

You mentioned you taught in a poor school and that required more work. I don't get that. I grew up wearing my much older brother's clothes, patches on jeans etc but I just listened in school and did my homework. How does not having money mean the teacher needs to spend time.

Again- I am not trying to shove my right wing views at you - I just don't see why a kid from a poor area needs more time to learn something than a kid from a rich area.

Thank you, TBF. I am not sure if I can really answer your question.

You listened in school and did your homework, although your family was by no means wealthy. You were probably academically bright, and a serious student by nature. Your parents had a work ethic and valued education, seeing it as the route out of poverty (mine were like that anyway).

Nowadays, with mass education, the competition has hotted up. Kids go to France, to the Gaelteacht, to the Institute etc. as middle class parents will do anything to get their kids ahead of the pack. It is not a level playing field. With free education, parents will buy extra help to give their kid the edge.

The word "disadvantaged" does not just mean monetarily disadvantaged. Some of the kids I teach (by no means all) come from homes which may be dysfunctional, where education is not a priority. Their siblings, friends, role-models are not at Third Level in the way that is almost natural for a middle class child. All the leg-ups the middle class kid gets----and "bright" or not, most get them now---like grinds from Auntie Mary who teaches Irish, or help with Maths from Uncle Noel, the engineer, or a trip to France, or listening to Mummy at her dinner party talking about George Lee----are not available to the poor child. So I must supply that deficit.

My contract is not with the parent. It is with the child. No point whining about parents who buy drink but won't buy textbooks for their child etc. I can help the kid. Therefore I must do it. The only, absolutely only change that will make any difference to this kid's life at this point, is education. That is what changed everything for me when I was a child.

True, lack of money is not the only reason for the kid's poor school performance. But if a middle class child is dossing, not doing homework, or is just totally lost in Maths, someone in his family will act. Not just with money, but also with time and discipline, and the confidence to tackle the Maths teacher. Then if money has to be spent, it will be spent. Seeing to your kid's education is almost a definition of "middle class".

Yes, an academically brilliant child from any background will "make it". But how many kids from any social class are like that? Most are stroppy, air-head, Playstation surfers like my own kids. The difference is, if the kid is lucky enough to be born middle class, Mummy will get rid of the PS3, and set Oisin on the road to being an accountant, just like Uncle Sean.

I passionately want that for the kids I teach.

Your question is an important one, with no easy answer.....hence the rather long-winded reply...

[uriah]

[QUOTE=Pabilito;2444906]Not at all, I'm only saying what my friend told me and I never identified anyone??

Anyway, doesn't matter what kind of qualifications an absent teacher has!..

Are you suggesting that a teachers qualifications alone will produce results in the absence of the teacher?[/QUOTE]

What exactly does that question mean? If, in the absence of a regular teacher, a class is taught by a fully qualified substitute teacher, there shouldn't be any complaints.

Ah well, if your friend told you something, that's alright as it must be true, so no libel there!!!!!

I think the (teacher) mother of very well-known (named) twins might be identifiable.

[Pabilito]

[quote=uriah;2445009]

Not at all, I'm only saying what my friend told me and I never identified anyone??

Anyway, doesn't matter what kind of qualifications an absent teacher has!..

Are you suggesting that a teachers qualifications alone will produce results in the absence of the teacher?[/QUOTE]

What exactly does that question mean? If, in the absence of a regular teacher, a class is taught by a fully qualified substitute teacher, there shouldn't be any complaints.

Ah well, if your friend told you something, that's alright as it must be true, so no libel there!!!!!

I think the (teacher) mother of very well-known (named) twins might be identifiable.

For the absence of any doubt, my friend told me that his sons teacher was the mother of twins called somthing like Jedwerd.

My personal opinion is that a teacher who is paid to teach sould teach.
Do you disagree?

Is it now considered "libel" to state that an absent teacher is absent?