Everybody has known for the last number of months that Leaving Cert changes were coming. You could sense it in the media, there were calls from various politicians and orieachtas committees were held in education and leaving cert reform in particular. And of course the rumors of the infamous document containing these changes sitting on the minister's desk.

However, it all did seem a bit sudden this week when changes were announced in the media frenzy and despite claims of intimate consultation with all "stakeholders", many were very, very surprised by some of the new changes.

Tonight, we go inside our schools to discuss these changes.

I am joined by

Peter Lydon, a geography teacher who holds an MA in geography and an MSc in e-learning. Peter also works as an education tutor with the University of East London and with DCU. Peter is also co-author of Real World Geography, Second edition, published by Folens.

Jennifer Horgan, a teacher of English and ethics. Many of you may know Jennifer through her education column in the Irish Examiner, she also writes for the Irish times, Jennifer has written a book titled 'Oh, Captain, My captain - One teacher's called for change in the Irish education system', available now through Orpen press.

Kate Barry, an English teacher, a well-known blogger and writer on education issues. Kate has also recently started her own podcast in collaboration with UCC and 98.3 FM titled 'Beyond the classroom'.

Mark Walshe, a Modern Foreign Language and a Computer Science teacher. Mark is a subject rep for both of these on the NCCA. Mark is well known in teacher trade union circles, and is in fact running for the vice-president of the ASTI in two weeks time at their convention down in Cork. So we wish him all the very best of luck there.

So as you can see, judging by the caliber of our guests, I am very much going to feel like a bit of an imposter in this conversation tonight. So I'm really looking forward to hearing what they have to say.

Enjoy.

In this episode we go inside our schools and examine the crisis of teacher retention and supply in Ireland. Recently COVID has brought the shortage of teachers to the forefront, making headlines, as a lack of available cover wreaks havoc in schools. We have examples of schools not being able to cover absent teachers and classes being sent home as a result.

We have principals of schools taking to social media, believe it or not, to find teachers willing or able to substitute and shockingly special education teachers being removed from the very students who need them the most in order to keep everything afloat.

But of course, this is not a surprise, as teachers and especially those involved in the trade unions will know, this has been coming for a long time and they'd been warning about this for years.

Enough has been highlighted recently in the media and social media about this shortage, so in this episode we focus on the real reasons for the shortage of teachers in Ireland at the moment.

in this episode I am joined by:

Noelle Moran, a secondary school teacher of Gaeilge and Accounting. Noelle was a member of the ASTI standing committee for many years. And I personally witnessed some of her very, very valuable contributions in standing up for teachers. And Noelle is also a teacher representative on the Teaching Council.

I'm also joined by:

Seamus O'Connor, a primary school teacher, and principal. Seamus is a member of the INTO a member of the National Principal's Forum. And he was one of the founding members and activists of the Voice for Teachers Facebook page. And he, he too has also been a teacher representative on the teaching council.

Just a reminder once again that all our contributors are speaking in a personal capacity.

Is the leaving cert really still fit for purpose?

This is the question we explore tonight, when we go inside our schools.

With the Oireachtas Education Committee meeting the various management bodies and teacher trade unions over the last number of weeks, coupled with recent calls from senators, TD celebrities, and journalists, Now more than ever, there seems to be a move towards Leaving Cert Reform.

In tonight's episode, I am joined by two of our resident guests,

Mark Walshe, a computer science and modern foreign languages teacher

and

Robert Chaney, a teacher of mathematics.

We discuss the calls for reform the reasons given for the need for such reform. And we ask the question, Is the leaving cert curriculum, really the correct target here? Or is it something else entirely? Such as the inequality in our society, the chronic underfunding of education and the pressure that is created by the CAO points race?

In this the second episode of season two, we go Inside our Schools and we shine a torch on the vital area of Special Education classes.

Joining me for a chat tonight is Graham Manning, who is a secondary school autism class coordinator. Those on Twitter would be quite familiar with Graham and his absolute Trojan work on behalf of autistic children and their parents, of course, and the promotion of autism classes within secondary schools.

Over the course of the next hour or so Graham takes me through some of the extraordinary work done and the supports that are given to autistic children in autism classes, in secondary schools in Ireland, he delves into the chronic underfunding and the frustrating lack of provision of such classes around the country.

And we also discussed or take a look at other models of special education delivery, such as the new Brunswick model and closer to home, we discussed the proposed or the possible proposed model. The National Council for Special Education was floating here in Ireland more recently.

In this the first episode of the new season, We discussed a return to school. We ask the questions, Is it really safe for a normal return to school with the current levels of COVID-19 in the community, with a new variant and with mitigation measures that have not changed since day one. We also discuss the disgraceful decision to send pregnant teachers, SNA’s and education workers back into crowded classrooms.

In this episode I am joined by, Tomás Ryan, Associate Professor at the school of biochemistry and immunology at Trinity college, Dublin, and a member of the independent scientific advocacy group. Tomás to gives us the bare scientific facts that suggest.. maybe schools are not quite as safe as we have been led to believe.

We're also joined by Olive O' Connor of Parents United, who gives us her perspective as a parent with children going back to both primary and secondary schools. And she gives us some big news about a freedom of information request that was obtained, which suggests that the data being used to determine education policy during Covid 19 in the past may not have been reliable.

To give us the perspective of secondary school teachers, we are joined by Seamus Keane, who is a member of the ASTI. Seamus touches on some of the things that happened last year that are very relevant to this year.

We are also joined by Mairéad De Búrca, who is a primary school teacher and a member of the INTO. And of course primary school students have yet to be vaccinated, and despite all the overwhelming evidence, there is still no requirement to wear masks at primary school.

All guests unless otherwise stated are speaking in a personal capacity.

NOTE: Seamus Keane in his contribution referenced HIQA guidelines when he was discussing the use of masks. He has asked that it be noted that he should have said HSPC.

in this episode we go inside our schools and take a look at the massive shift in educational policy here in Ireland over the last number of years, that is to move education from a knowledge subject based curriculum, to an outcomes skill-based model.

We put the rationale given for such changes under the microscope and try to tease out what might be the real reasons behind this major shift in education, and what are the possible consequences of it?

Joining us for this discussion are:

Geraldine Mooney Simmie, a senior lecturer and deputy head of the School of Education at the University of Limerick.

Kate Barry, an English subject representative, and a well-known blogger and writer on educational issues.

and

Mark Walshe, an educational policy critic and a subject representative for Spanish and Computer Science.

I would highly recommend the book Democracy and Teacher Education

Mooney Simmie, G., & Murphy, D. (2021).Professionalisation of early childhood education and care practitioners: Working conditions in Ireland.Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 1-15. Online First: 21 April 2021. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/14639491211010187

Mooney Simmie, G. (2021). Chapter 1: Remaining a Student of Teaching Forever: Critical Reflexive Insights from a Lifetime of Multiple Teacher Identities in the Republic of Ireland. In Professional Learning and Identities in Teaching International Narratives of Successful Teachers, Edited by Cendel A. Karaman and Silvia Edling, pp. 15-27. Routledge, London: Research in Teacher Education Series.https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003028451-2/remaining-student-teaching-forever-geraldine-mooney-simmie?context=ubx&refId=8bdef3ba-096f-48f7-88fc-13a88a7e97b5

Mooney Simmie, G., & Moles, J. (2020). Teachers’ Changing Subjectivities: Putting the Soul to Work for the Principle of the Market or for Facilitating Risk? Studies in Philosophy and Education, 39(4), 383-398.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11217-019-09686-9

Mooney Simmie, G., & Edling, S. (2020). Democracy and Teacher Education Dilemmas, Challenges and Possibilities. London & New York: Routledge.https://www.routledge.com/education/products/SCED30

Mooney Simmie, G. & Lang, M. (2020). School-Based Deliberative Partnership as a Platform for Teacher Professionalization and Curriculum Innovation. Routledge Research Teacher Education Series. London and New York: Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/School-Based-Deliberative-Partnership-as-a-Platform-for-Teacher-Professionalization/Mooney-Simmie-Lang/p/book/97803672645988

Mooney Simmie, G. (2020). The Power, Politics,...

In this episode we look at changes to Posts of Responsibility in schools and examine some of the effects these have had on teachers and staff rooms. 

Joining in this debate we welcome back

Liam Hennelly, a Chemistry and Biology teacher

Martin McMullen, a Politics & Society, a History and a Religion teacher.

We're also joined tonight for the first time by

Keith Cassidy, an Economics and a Geography teacher. 

In this episode, we go inside our schools and we take a look at the role played by Special Needs Assistants.

We discuss the key issues that are faced by a lot of SNAs, issues, such as abuse of job description, ill-defined roles within schools with many SNAs has being given jobs that have absolutely nothing to do with their role.

We discussed the diminishing allocation of SNAs in schools and the precarious nature of employment faced by many SNAs, who can find themselves going from school to school nomadically every year, trying to find work.

And we also take a brief look at the future of special needs education in Ireland, the proposed New Brunswick model. 

Joining for the discussion are two SNA's and Forsa union members;

Carol McSherry is founder of SNA's Speak Out, on twitter @SNAsSpeakOut

Linda O'Sullivan is Co-Founder of The SNA Advocacy Group on twitter @SNAAGIre

In this episode we discuss the recent changes to the National Vaccine Plan and examine the effectiveness of the current mitigation measures in schools in the context of new variants of covid-19.

Joining for the discussion tonight are

Fergal Canton. A Religion, Computer Science and English Teacher. Fergal is also a member of the ASTI and is a representative on its H&S committee.

Christopher Davey. A Physics and Science Teacher. Christopher is also a member of the ASTI.

Linda O'Sullivan. A Special Needs Assistant. Linda is also a Forsa Representative.

Clare Kelly. An Associate Professor in the School of Psychology at Trinity College Dublin. Clare wrote the paper on school safety for the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group (ISAG).

Link to the ISAG Education Webinar mentioned in this episode

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_j6bYXQynQOaLytvuVsZjYg…

In this episode we discuss the dual assessment arrangements for Leaving Cert 2021 announced by the Dept of Education.

In the discussion we examine the extent to which there was consultation throughout this process.

We look at the fairness of the proposed arrangements and what it might mean for the future of education in Ireland.

We also take a look at the details of the plan, such as the discontinuation of the mocks, the in class assessment arrangements from now until the end of the year, how are teachers expected to mark their students and is there truly no ranking of students this year.

We also trash out the possible changes in pupil/teacher relationships and also interestingly the changing classroom dynamics between the students themselves.

It is a jam packed episode.

Joining for the discussion today are

Robert Chaney, a Mathematics teacher

Sandra Fay, a Business teacher

Liam Hennelly, a Chemistry and Biology teacher

and

Tony Canning, an English teacher.