Protest Against Education Cuts

by Mark Conroy - ASTI - Pers. Caps. Fri Oct 24, 2008 12:59 oscailt at indymedia dot ie

This is a very worthy cause and does not just affect the teachers. Whilst each school is rumoured to be going to lose about 3 teachers (my school will probably lose five - out of 25), it is you (students) and your friends/brothers/sisters/daughters and other relations and aquaintances who will ultimately lose out.

* Bigger class sizes
* No more going away for sports, debates, drama, film screenings, guest speakers, visiting colleges, etc.
* Less resource hours/classes for those who with special needs

Please support this demonstration and see the following websites for more detailed information.

http://www.asti.ie
http://www.into.ie
http://www.tui.ie

by Jolly Red Giant - SP/CWI Fri Oct 24, 2008 16:54

Gregor - while dividing classes might happen in primary schools - it won't work at second level. I can see dozens of teachers going on 'certified' sick leave if they continuusly get dumped with extra students. Imagine a home ec class of 25 getting dumped into a woodwork room.

by lynn m. Sat Oct 25, 2008 17:27

*Subjects such as Physics and Chemistries Grants will be abolished*
>:(

by Gregor Kerr Mon Oct 27, 2008 13:15

Student Teachers take note:

The Education cuts announced in the Budget last week will result in:

· The loss of 500 Language Support jobs (schools will only be allowed a maximum of 2 Language Support teachers no matter how many children they have who do not have English)

· The loss of up to 300 teaching posts as a result of the increase in class size (It’s important to remember that increasing class size doesn’t just mean one extra pupil in each class as things don’t break down that easily. Ireland will now have the largest class sizes in Europe)

· The loss of 60 ‘concessionary’ posts in schools which have disadvantaged status but are not part of DEIS

· The loss of a small number of posts as a result of a cancellation of secondments

This means that in total there will be at least 900 fewer primary teachers in the system next year.

Approximately 800 teachers will retire so the implication is that there will be NO jobs for any of the students leaving College in June and up to 200 teachers currently working will lose their jobs.

So Student Teachers need to get organised, come along to support this demo on Wednesday and help defeat these cuts

by Gregor Mon Oct 27, 2008 13:22

From INTO website
# Regional rallies against the cuts will be organised as follows:

* Saturday 8th November: Galway
* Saturday 15th November: Tullamore
* Saturday 22nd November: Cork
* Saturday 29th November: Donegal
* Saturday 6th December: Dublin

by Student Mon Oct 27, 2008 18:25

Free Education for Everyone (FEE) are supporting this demo and calling for all their members and supporters to attend.

FEE was set up in UCD last month to oppose the reintroduction of college fees.

by BarryB Mon Oct 27, 2008 20:15 barrybrennan at hotmail dot com

To all concerned Citizens of Ireland,

In this bleak post-budget economic environment it is clear that there are many people in Ireland who are concerned for their family’s and their own future, and for the future of Ireland in general. And understandably so. It is bad enough when certain events occur in the globalized economy and society we live in which are beyond our and our government’s control. But when our own government demonstrates ineptitude in the way it manages our state finances, things go from bad to worse. People across the political divide agree that this government badly erred in its judgement with regard to a number of measures announced in the recent budget, not least those which seek to reform the system for medical cards for pensioners, and cutbacks in funding for education.

Now, I am not under the illusion that governing a country is a simple matter - and isn’t very easy to be an armchair critic. But this government failed to seize an opportunity in times of prosperity to save for the rainy day which has now arrived, and we haven’t even begun to see the worst of it. The point here is that this is a situation which could have been brought under control by this government if it had managed the state finances in a manner which the people would have expected and entrusted them to do.

Of all the flaws in the recent budget, the one that for me stands out the most is the cutbacks in education. The contradiction here is almost laughable. On one hand the Government claims that the “way forward” is to turn Ireland into a knowledge-based country and economy, and on the other through its fiscal policies it is creating conditions in education which will make such a lofty ambition seem unattainable. We have to provide the children of this country with the necessary tools and conditions to make the best of themselves, and this government doesn’t seem to acknowledge that fact. It is pity, as Ireland seemed to be marching forward into modernity, now it seems at though it is in reverse. We should all be concerned about the future of this country.

Should we not organize a protest and use the banner "This is Not the Way to Knowledge"?

Sincerely,
Barry Brennan

by Noel McGrath - Computers for Africa Mon Oct 27, 2008 22:33

In connection with this great campaign for education and development in Africa, please see:

http://www.camara.ie/

and/or contact: mcgratmj@tcd.ie

Thanking You all, especially my former socialist comrades in Dublin,

Noel McGrath.

by n Mon Oct 27, 2008 23:47

That's the slogan that is spreading like a rash in italy in connection with protests against education cutbacks. Would work here too methinks.

From the occupied faculties of the La Sapienza, from the University in mobilization, Rome.
http://www.nettime.org/Lists-Archives/nettime-l-0810/ms....html