February 2011

INTO in the Media

Local News - Clare County Express
28th February 2011
The Irish National Teachers Union is to oppose the amalgamation of small schools in county saying they're part of rural communities.

INTO grills candidates on Meath's education - Meath News and Sport
26th February 2011
Concerned teachers from Meath's three branches of the INTO (Irish National Teachers Organisation) met with local election candidates in Navan last weekend to grill them about the future of education policy in the county. Over 40 teachers from Navan, Kells and Athboy/Trim convened in the Ardboyne Hotel last Friday. The candidates were all briefed ahead of the meeting on the five key issues affecting primary teachers and education. These comprised of proposed cuts to staff, salaries and pensions, low levels of finding and the implementation of the Croke Park agreement.

Candidates meet teachers on education concerns - Meath Chronicle
26th February 2011
INTO hosts politicians in Navan meeting. Meath's three INTO branches held a meeting with local election candidates in the Ardboyne Hotel on Friday. More than 40 teachers from schools all over the county and from Westmeath, representing every level and grade within primary teaching, attended the meeting. Bryan O'Reilly, representing the Central Executive Committee of the INTO was also in attendance and the meeting was chaired by Colin Quigley.

Kelleher seeks Seanad Seat - Clare Champion
25th February 2011
Principal of Scoil Mhuire Naisiiinta in Corofin, Declan Kelleher is to run as an independent candidate for Seanad Eireann. Mr Kelleher, a former Irish National Teachers Organisation president, will contest the election as an independent candidate on the NUI University panel. He currently represents the INTO on the executive council of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. He will be attempting to win the seat currently held by outgoing senator Joe O'Toole, a former general secretary of the INTO. Mr Kelleher admitted to The Clare Champion that nobody could be blamed for calling for the abolition of the Seanad in its present form as "it has been hijacked by the political parties and used as a retirement home by them for many politicians down through the years".

Sue Nunn - KCLR
25th February 2011
Kilkenny principal Gerard Farrelly discusses the bursary he has received from Irish National Teachers’ Organisation for his research into homophobic bullying in schools.

Morning Focus - Clare FM
24th February 2011
Declan Kelleher, former president of the INTO, outlines why he would like to be a member of the Seanad.

Teachers' skills - Irish Times
23rd February 2011
Madam, - Mary Coughlan's claim that teachers lack the "requisite skills" to boost literacy and numeracy standards (Breaking News, February 17th) is simply wrong. Teachers lack the "requisite resources" because her government failed to reduce class sizes and fund schools adequately. Ms Coughlan was invited to debate such issues with other education spokespersons at an INTO conference recently, but did not attend. Her absence coupled with her subsequent comments will not make any teacher's heart grow fond. -Yours, etc, Jim Higgins, President, INTO, Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

Exams in Text: C U in 10 yrs – The Sunday Times
20th February 2011
N DIS papr I dsrv n A: Leaving Cert students should be allowed to write in text-speak and will be doing so in about 10 years, according to a leading language scholar. Dr. Martin Croghan, an author and former lecturer in linguistics and semiotics at Dublin City University, argues that texting among young people aids their development and insists the often-criticised way they communicate should be recognised as an evolving language in its own right. He has called on education officials to “move with the times” and allow the youth vernacular of acronyms and short-ended words to be used in schools. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) the largest teachers’ union, says there are daily examples of primary school pupils using text-speak in their homework. Peter Mullan, a spokesman for the INTO, said texting is now so ingrained in modern society it is pointless to resist it. “Every primary school child has a mobile phone. Text-speak is now part of their language,” he said. “But it’s important to teach kids that there are different language formats, one formal and one informal.

Births planned for term time – The Sunday Times
20th February 2011
Teachers are planning pregnancies to maximise time off, new figures from the Department of Education suggest. There were 828 primary teachers on maternity leave on September 1, 2010, the start of the current school year. But last month 1,332 teachers of the 31,709-strong primary workforce were being marked “as lathair”. This means one in 28 staff is now on maternity leave. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation said:” Improvements in maternity leave over recent decades have dispelled the myth that pregnancies were planned around the school year. Any maternity leave now has to include part of the school year. It is mathematically and biologically impossible to avoid missing some part of the year in school, or in any other workplace, due to pregnancy.”

Row that doesn’t add up – Comment – Irish Daily Mail
18th February 2011
They epitomize everything that is laudable about the concept of public service – a sense of vocation, dedication above and beyond the call of duty, a pride in what they do. They are, of course, our teachers and our nurses. Yesterday and not for the first time, both groups were treated shabbily by our politicians – the teachers by the out-going Government, student nurses by the incoming one. But once again it is the politicians themselves who have ended up looking most shabby. For Mary Coughlan, a woman who famously struggled publicly to distinguish between Einstein’s Theory of Relativity and Darwin’s Theory of Natural Selection, to criticise teachers of any kind is insulting enough in itself. But for her to blame primary teachers for a decline in literacy rates is outrageous. She after all was a member of a government that failed, even in the boom years, to tackle the problem of mounting pupil-teacher ratios. It’s the politicians, and not our teenagers, who appear to have the most difficulty with simple arithmetic these days.

Primary teachers just aren't up to the job, says Coughlan – Irish Daily Mail
18th February 2011
Mary Coughlan yesterday alienated thousands of voters by blaming primary school teachers for an alarming fall in standards. The Claims provoked a furious response from the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, which said it had been warning the Government about the difficulties in the primary system for more than a decade but had effectively been ignored. A spokesman described the comments as ‘very, very unfair’. ‘We have been saying for the best part of a decade that the curriculum cannot be implemented in overcrowded classrooms’, he said. ‘Give us the resources and the tools so we can do the job – but instead here she is blaming teachers. We would say the blame lies with the under-resourcing of teaching for decades.’ The INTO spokesman added that the union has long supported adding an extra year to the primary teaching degree programme but the Department of Education had failed to act on its advice. ‘We took part in a high-level review which recommended this back in Michael Wood’s time as Minister for Education (from 2000 to 2002) and it has been gathering dust since,’ he said

Labour's education policy is to attack religious freedom Irish Independent
18th February 2011
Comment - David Quinn

Barrscéalta Déardaoin 170211
17 February 2011
BARRSCÉALTA 170211. Aodh Mac Laifeartaigh Urlabhraí ó Céim Aniar le tuairisc ón chruinniú a bhí acu ar maidin le Joe McHugh TD maidir le polasaí Gaeilge an pháirti … Declan Kelleher iar-uachtarán Cumann Múinteoiri Éireann & Bernie Ní Dhuibhir Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta faoi fógra an lae inné ón Roinn Oideachas & Scileanna go bhfuil próiséas chomhairliúcháin tosaithe i dtaca le le todhchaí scoileanna le níos lú ná 50 dalta iontu …An tOllamh Micheál O Dochartaigh, Colaiste Tréidliachta Coláiste na hOllscoile , 47 tarbh san Aonad Naisiúnta Tógáil Eallaigh marbh de bharr víoras. ..An Feisire Eorpach Pat Cope O Gallchóir: Rialacha san Aontas Eorapach athraihte le nios mo cearta a thabhairt do phaisinéiri má chuirtear turais ar ceal no ma bhionn moill ar thurais ata thaire 250km …Mír dlí le Antoín Delap ..

Slim Fein keeps on saying 'Yes' to teachers - Irish Independent
17th February 2011
Sinn Fein has been caught out giving different answers to teachers over how much it would spend on education if it was in government.
The party's efforts to impress with pledges of a huge increase in education spending have left it red-faced, after its differing answers left an unexplained gap of EUR1.5bn. It has promised the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) that annual education spending will rise to 6pc of national income, officially termed GDP. But when the party was asked by the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) if it would increase education spending to 7pc of national income, Sinn Fein also replied: "Yes." The difference between the party's conflicting pre-election pledges comes to about EUR1.5bn a year. The current Government's spend on education as a proportion of national income is less than 5pc and among the lowest in the developed world. The TUI has asked its members to support candidates from parties "which have given sincere and positive responses" to a series of questions on education policy, including spending.

Prime Time - RTE One
16th February 2011
Paul Murphy reports on the state of Ireland's education system and looks at the parties' policies on the issue. Interview with John Walshe (Irish Independent), Sinead O'Kane (School principal), Maureen O'Sullivan (Independent candidate), Eamonn Mac Niallais (Guth na Gaeltachta), Donncha O hEallaithe (Gaeltacht Policy Analyst) and Paul Gogarty (Green Party). Studio discussion with Sheila Nunan (INTO), Prof Ferdinand Von Prondzynski (DCU), Rose Tully (National Parents Council), Mary Hanafin (Fianna Fail), Fergus O'Dowd (Fine Gael), Ruairi Quinn (Labour Party) and Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit)...

Kerry Today - Radio Kerry
16th February 2011
The Kerry branch of INTO has expressed concerns with small country schools and the possibility of their closures. Ger Doyle (INTO) outlines his concerns in relation to a recommendation in An Bord Snip Nua report.

Is there a place for God in the Irish classroom? - Irish Independent
16th February 2011
As Catholic Bishops defend their influence in schools, reformers wonder whetherthe curriculum has too much religion...... A survey by the INTO almost a decade ago showed that only 36% of primary teachers were in favour of continuing with denominational training of teachers while 46% were against...

INTO withholds co-operation on jobless teachers working for free - Irish Times
14th February 2011
Primary teachers' union the INTO is to direct members to withhold co-operation with a scheme which could see unemployed teachers working for free in schools, writes Sean Flynn. The scheme, run by Fas, was announced in November by Tanaiste and Minister for Education Mary Coughlan. The decision was taken at a weekend conference in Croke Park and was backed by virtually all 800 delegates. Union general secretary Sheila Nunan later said she was not surprised by the decision. She said it reflected anger at a 14 per cent cut in new teachers' pay, proposed reductions to pension benefit and widespread teacher unemployment among graduates and that there was unanimous condemnation of the Tanaiste's claim it was a major initiative to help the unemployed. The conference also saw the first education debate of the electoral campaign.

Teachers Oppose Scheme - Irish Sunday Mirror
13th February 2011
The primary teachers' union, Irish National Teachers' Organisation, is to oppose a government work placement programme which would see unemployed teachers workign for free in schools.  At a special conference yesterday, members of the union voted over whelmingly to oppose the scheme, against the wishes of their union executive. A letter will now be issued to all union members telling them not to co-operate with the scheme.

Teachers' Union angry at pension plans - Limerick Post
12th February 2011
The Irish National Teachers' Union has criticised what it called plans by government to walk away from any responsibility for pensions. The claims came at a meeting for primary and post primary teachers held in UL. Seamus Long, INTO executive representative for Limerick, described the belief that the state has to make a huge contribution to the pensions of its workers as a myth. "At present, with the pension levy, a new teacher joining the current scheme at age 21 needs only a 3.4% (of salary) contribution from the state as employer to help fund pension costs".

RTE News - RTE One
12th February 2011
The INTO is to direct members not to co-operate with government work placement programmes which would see unemployed teachers working for free in schools...

Six One News - RTE One
12th February 2011
The INTO is to direct members not to co-operate with government work placement programmes which would see unemployed teachers working for free in schools. Emma O'Kelly reports. Interview with Sheila Nunan (INTO)...

Highlighting Art of Handwriting - Southern Star
12th February 2011
EBS Building Society, in conjunction with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) has launched the 2011 EBS-INTO National Handwriting Competition and their campaign to highlight the art of handwriting. The competition, now in its 19th year, is open to all national schools throughout the country and its focus is to keep the art of handwriting alive in the schools across the country. Speaking at the launch, Jim Higgins, president of the INTO, said: 'We are delighted to announce the launch of the 2011 INTO-EBS Handwriting competition. The competition has been a huge success over the last 18 years and it is a great achievement for all involved to be heading into the 19th year of the competition.

National Handwriting Competition - Waterford Today
9th February 2011
EBS Building Society in conjunction with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO), today launched the 2011 EBS/INTO National Handwriting Competition and their campaign to highlight the art of handwriting in Waterford. The competition, now in its 19th year, is open to all national schools throughout the country and its focus is to keep the art of handwriting alive in the schools across the country.

Retirement Honours for Teachers - Clare People
8th February 2011
More than 350 years of service to the young people of north Clare was recognised in a special retirement function, which took place at the Bellbridge Hotel in Spanish Point over the weekend. Scores of teachers from all over north Clare descended on Spanish Point for one of the largest retirement events ever hosted by the Irish National Teacher's Organisation (INTO) in the county. The celebration recognised the work of 11 north Clare primary teachers - each of whom has retired over the last three years. The celebration, which involved a dinner, speeches and a presentation was addressed by the current general secretary of the INTO Sheila Nunan and local INTO coordinator Sean McMahon from Mullagh National School. "Most of these teachers would have given more then 35 years of service as teachers in the north Clare area so it is very fitting that their service and dedication should be recognised," said Michael O'Connor from Moy National School.

Helena is Elected Head of Local Teachers' Union - Enniscorthy Guardian
8th February 2011
Helena O'Flynn Roche from the gaelscoil in Enniscorthy has been elected chairwoman of the local branch of the Irish National Teachers Organisation. The vote took place during the annual general meeting of the branch at the Wexford education centre in Bellfield last week. The attendance at the AGM was briefed by INTO central executive representative Claire Byrne on pay and conditions, particularly work practice changes as part of the Croke Park Agreement. The officers chosen on the night were: chairwoman Helena O'Flynn Roche, Gaelscoil Inis Corthaidh; secretary John Brennan, Oulart NS; vice-chairman Andy Hanrahan, Monageer NS; assistant secretary Mark Kelly, Oylegate NS.

INTO Speaks Out - Clare People
8th February 2011
The Irish National Teachers' Organisation said Government could afford to pay the cost of teachers' pensions. The union criticised what it called plans by Government to walk away from pension responsibilities. The claims came at a meeting for primary and post primary teachers held in the University of Limerick on Wednesday. At present retired teachers get a pension of half of their final salary after 40 years teaching. These pensions are linked to the pay of serving teachers. The new proposals would mean that pensions would be decided on "career average" earnings. "These three proposed changes will be devastating for the pensions of new teachers," said Sean McMahon. INTO Executive member representing Clare. "There will be no net benefit from being in a pension scheme as many teachers will pay in far more than they will ever get out. This situation may be open to legal challenge especially since membership is compulsory."

Barrséalta - RTÉ Raidio na Gaeltachta
4th February 2011
Deirbhile Nic Craith Oifigeach Oideachais Cumann Múinteoirí Éireann , ;;Joanne Ní Bhaoill, comhordaitheoir tuaithe agus Dolores Mhic Géidigh eagraí oideachas aosaigh ag plé cinneadh na Roinne Oideachais & Scileanna deireadh a chur le postanna comhordaitheoirí tuaithe. Sadie Donavan ó seirbhísí comhairlithe gnéis & éignithe faoin ardú ar líon na n-ionsaithe gnéis le blian anuas…. An Feisire Eorpach Pat Cope O Gallchóir- eolas ar a shuíomh ghréasain faoi aistritheoirí Gaeiilge a lorg san Aontas Eorpach…Pacáiste ar thaispeántas faoi ospidéal Naomh Chonaill ata ar siúil i musaem na contae …An dochtúr teaghlaigh Tony Delap ag plé cursaí sláinte...

Breakfast Show - Newstalk
3rd February 2011
Sheila Nunan (General Secretary, INTO) discusses the future of the Croke Park Agreement.

Croke Park Implementation Body bids to get its message across - Industrial Relations News
3rd February 2011
National Teachers Deal Done. The Body says that arrangements have been agreed and put in place for primary school (INTO) teachers to work additional hours outside normal school hours, "so that necessary training, staff meetings and parent teacher meetings will not impact on teaching time for children and facilitate working parents attend teacher meetings". Furthermore, it says that: "Redeployment scheme for surplus primary school teachers agreed with INTO and in place so that vacancies can be filled and gaps avoided as teachers retire.

Morning Ireland - RTE Radio 1
1st February 2011
The abolition of the post of rural co-ordinator for disadvantaged in schools was one of the education cuts in the December budget. Emma O' Kelly assesses the impact at a County Longford school. Interview: Ann O' Reilly (Rural Co-ordinator), Helen O' Gorman (St Mary's School Principal), Marisa Keane (Mother).

Education is an issue worth fighting for .... - Irish Examiner
1st February 2011
The country finds itself in its present perilous and almost insolvent state due in no small part to the manner in which it was governed for too long, by a ruling elite and political class who were ill-equipped, ill-prepared and ill-educated for the task. We are in the throes of an election campaign and the canvassers and party activists can be seen on the streets, at the workplace and knocking on doors, looking for those votes. The issues that will demand most attention during this election campaign will be the IMF rescue package and banking crisis, unemployment, the financial hardship being experienced by many families, emigration and the state of the health service. There is one hugely important item which must be included among these topics for debate and inquiry. And that is education. It is a fact that the more educated an individual is, the more employable they are. There is a clear positive relationship between high skills and economic prosperity. Life-long learning is a popular catchphrase which illustrates the importance of education at every stage of the human life cycle, embracing nursery, pre-school, primary, secondary, vocational, tertiary and adult education. I urge everyone to include education among the topics for discussion when speaking with the politicians during the campaign. Education can be the panacea to cope with the glaring inequalities which afflict Irish society today. It is an issue worth fighting for.
Colin Quigley Chairman INTO Athboy, Co Meath

Teachers Retire - Connaught Telegraph
1st February 2011
The Irish National Teachers Organisation west Mayo presentation night took place in Hotel Westport when a large crowd honoured four of their colleagues who have recently retired. They were Walter Cox, Myna N.S., Padraic McKeon, Holy Family N.S., Merci Kilcoyne, Knockrooskey N.S. and Agnes Reilly, Murrisk N.S. They were congratulated for their tremendous contribution to the education system, and they will be long remembered by their pupils for the fair and humane way they treated them. The four are wished many years of happiness and health in their retirement.