Cut and tax us to death – thanks Fine Gael and Labour.

…. and Apple sues other companies for copying its technology!

It’s worth a listen:

Apologies to those who don’t understand a word of it. I couldn’t afford a translator.

Tom Crean was an amazing man. He travelled and explored the Antarctic a hundred years ago.

The man so impressesed me that I made a video about him!

I’m in the process (and a long process it is too!!) of setting up a tribute site to him here.

The DES has posted Circular 0008/2011 on its website in relation to the implementation of the Croke Park Agreement.

I could list the details but all is contained in the circular.

Important points to note – it provides for teachers working an additional hour per week and allows for contract reviews.

The circular is here.

1. Postgraduate Diploma in Education, UCD
2. Graduate Diploma in Education, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra & Addendum
3. Bachelor of Science (Education) in Physics and Chemistry, University of Limerick
4. Bachelor of Education, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick & Addendum

As primary teaching is my forte I’ve been reading number 4 (and addendum) with interest.

What strikes me, initially, is how short the review/report is – it’s only 8 pages long – with 7 members on the review panel it looks as if they wrote just over an A4 page each!

Anyways ….

The Teaching Council calls it a review/report while the title on the review/report itself calls it a ‘Report Summary’.

Some of the recommendations include:

• Re-activating the review of the B.Ed degree programme
• Examining the time allocated to Religious Education in the B.Ed. programme. (I don’t know if they want more or less – they don’t say)
• Encouraging staff to model the teaching methodologies they wish students to emulate. (That should be interesting)
• Engaging with Gaeltacht course providers in the development and evaluation of course content in Irish. (One I’d agree with)

Recommendations with regard to National Issues:

• The extension of the programme over a four year period
• The improvement of College/school partnerships
• The allocation of appropriate resources to teacher education programmes
• The enhancement of the Gaeltacht experience

The addendum just expands on its views on teacher placement within schools (teaching practise) – it addresses issues with regard to the timing of them within the academic year.

It remains to be seen if the reports will be acted upon or will gather virtual dust on the Teaching Council website.

Text version here.

Where do they find them?