The private motions passed at this year’s conference were:
RESOLUTION 27
Conference notes the increased demands made on our school reps during the Covid pandemic, commends their hard work in difficult circumstances and calls on Northern Committee to raise awareness of the importance of the role of school rep and launch a recruitment drive to encourage members to fill that position within their school.
RESOLUTION 28
Conference notes and condemns the ongoing practice of apartheid, as recognised by Israeli NGO B’Tselem and the international organization Human Rights Watch by the State of Israel in Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) and within the State of Israel.
Conference notes INTO policy to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement in support of the rights of the Palestinian people.
Conference further notes the current Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) led call for Irish organisations, including trade unions to declare themselves ‘Apartheid Free Zones’ (AFZs) in support of the BDS movement.
Conference calls on Northern committee to work with CEC to:
a) Have Northern Office declared an AFZ and register this action with the IPSC campaign.
b) Encourage INTO branches in District 1 and 2 to become AFZs.
RESOLUTION 29
Conference notes with concern the negative and damaging reports and commentary on teaching in the media and on social media which frequently distorts public opinion of the teaching profession.
Conference calls on Northern Committee to, when appropriate, celebrate the positive aspects of teaching and learning and emphasise the complexity of a teacher’s role and promote our responsibilities as dedicated Educators through our social media and media opportunities.
RESOLUTION 30
Conference notes the increase in online teaching in the past two years and the subsequent increase in screen time required for teachers.
Conference calls on Northern Committee to survey members in relation to any negative health impacts suffered by teachers as a result of the added time on screen and to report the result of this survey to Northern Conference 2023.
RESOLUTION 31
Conference notes with concern the continued lack of CPD available to teachers.
Conference calls on Northern Committee to investigate the possibility of INTO sourcing and providing CPD for members in a range of areas.