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Written by Administrator
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Nov 01, 2008 at 02:16 PM |
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Following on from the previous story ... shortly after her speech at the launch of COIN Caitriona Ruane met with the Catholic Heads Association (CHA) to discuss its concerns about the "lack of direction and political progress" and "limited leadership". Every Catholic grammar school in Northern Ireland seems likely to continue with some sort of entrance test now that the CHA has recommended that its schools use the transitional test proposed by Caitriona Ruane.
This 3 year interim arrangement would see grammar schools admitting half of first year pupils using a revised test put together by CCEA (in the following years this would reduce to 30% then 20%). CHA however, is recommending that the test is used for the whole intake, this despite CHA's committment to reform of Catholic education including the dropping of the grammar label.
There is some doubt that CCEA can rush (and in CCEA's case "rush" is not generally a good idea!) the test through on time only having been given the go ahead in May. They had previously indicated that they would require a research and development period of longer than the usual 16 months.
Caitriona Ruane seems to blame a unionist conspiracy for her current problems, however she is finding herself under increasing pressure across the board. At an event in St. Mary's University College on the Falls Road this week, parents were angry that they still had no idea what their children could expect next year. Parents coming hoping for answers went home disappointed. |
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Last Updated ( Nov 01, 2008 at 02:22 PM )
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This is the last 11+: Ruane |
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Written by Administrator
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Oct 22, 2008 at 08:02 PM |
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At the launch of the COIN careers portal in the Southern Regional College this morning Caitriona Ruane was in typically belligerent form. Her speech, crafted from a string of sound bites, gave notice to her opponents that "this is the last 11+ regardless of who is minister".
There would be "no more talking in silos". "The flip side of academic excellence is underachievement". "I am not going to preside over academic apartheid". Talk of not enough time was dismissed as another "route of attack".
NIACT members have a range of views on selection but we are anxious that the issue is not politicised and that the interests of those involved in education, pupils and teachers alike, are taken into account. |
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Last Updated ( Nov 01, 2008 at 02:19 PM )
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Read more...
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Written by Ian Kennedy
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Oct 18, 2008 at 10:48 AM |
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Sometimes we underestimate the power of words. As Christians we shouldn't: didn't James warn about the tongue. As teachers in many ways we have an unequal relationship with our pupils. Sometimes that becomes a power struggle and when it comes to words we generally have the upper hand.
As a teacher in Further Education I've heard the story often enough. A pupil with dyslexia or simply struggling and in (sometimes understandable) frustration a teacher has misused the power of the tongue.
I remember when I was doing my teacher training I must have said something just a little too clever in class and a student piped up "the sarcasm lessons going well!". Unfortunately there is a danger that the job itself can be a sarcasm or cynism lesson.
"The tongue is a fire" let it be on fire for God, let it "admonish" certainly but let it build up and encourage too.
The damage done in seconds in the classroom can last a lifetime. Baz Gasgoyne's story is sadly far from unique: http://www.crossrhythms.co.uk/articles/life/Thick_As_Two_Short_Planks/33957/p1/ |
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Last Updated ( Oct 20, 2008 at 08:57 PM )
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