#WishingStones Promoting global goals - Irish National Teachers' Organisation
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IssueNo182
November2018
ISSN1393-4813(Print)
ISSN2009-6887(Online)
#WishingStones
Promoting g
lobal goals
Keeping InTouch
9 Interactive dialogue with members, and key news items 0
SheilaNunan,General
Secretary,speakingatthe
RaisetheRoofRallyin
October
Budget 2019 disappoints
Last month’s budget took some steps in the right direction up to the challenge and lobbied local and national public
but failed to deliver a much needed investment in our representatives. While more work remains to be done, we
members and primary education. While there has been a are a step closer because of your effort and passion.
modest restoration, primary school teachers and parents Politically, Minister McHugh takes the helm at the
have been let down by this inadequate increase in the Department of Education and Skills and I look forward to
capitation grant of five per cent. Resulting from this working with him and his team over the coming months to
decision, teachers will continue to have to fundraise for stand up for primary education.
basic expenditure in schools and parents will still have to dig e theme of this year’s annual Consultative Conference on
deep into their pockets to cough up voluntary Education is ‘e Teaching Profession – 150 years on’, using
contributions. the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the INTO to consider
Teaching principals, especially those with special classes, the changes that have been made and the changes that are to
will value the additional release days provided. is is a step come in relation to the teaching profession. We are delighted
in the right direction and INTO will continue to advocate Prof Andy Hargreaves will join us as our keynote speaker at
for further release days until we secure one per week for all the conference in Athlone. Prof Hargreaves is a world-
teaching principals. renowned expert in educational change and leadership and
It is disappointing that the issue of class sizes was not is known for his support for greater autonomy for teachers
addressed in this budget. It is an issue that affects every and for articulating professional concerns about the impact
pupil. Similarly, disappointing was the lack of restoration of of high-stakes testing.
middle management posts, 5,000 of which were cut during
the recession.
I want to thank members all over the country who stepped
InTouchGeneralEditor: Sheila Nunan Correspondenceto: The Editor, InTouch, InTouch is published by the Irish National those of the individual authors and are not Except where the Irish National Teachers’
Editor: David Geary INTO Head Office, Vere Foster House, Teachers’ Organisation and distributed to necessarily endorsed by the INTO. Organisation has formally negotiated
AssistantEditor: Lori Kealy, Síne Friel 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 members and educational institutions. While every care has been taken to ensure agreements as part of its services to members,
EditorialAssistants:Karen Francis, Yvonne Tel: 01 804 7700 / LoCall: 1850 708 708 InTouch is the most widely circulated that the information contained in this inclusion of an advertisement does not imply
Kenny, Aida Gonzalez, Email:editor@into.ie education magazine in Ireland. Articles publication is up to date and correct, no any form of recommendation. While every
Advertising:Mary Bird Smyth, Aida Gonzalez Website: www.into.ie/m.into.ie published in InTouch are also available on our responsibility will be taken by the Irish effort is made to ensure the reliability of
Design:David Cooke If you no longer wish to receive InTouch website www.into.ie National Teachers’ Organisation for any error advertisers, the INTO cannot accept liability
Photography:Moya Nolan, Shutterstock please contact editor@into.ie. The views expressed in this journal are which might occur. for the quality of goods and services offered.
INTOUCH 3 NOVEMBER 2018
CONTENTS
17 An Ghaeilge agus an Múinteoir
Náisiúnta
INTO 150 event in Marino Institute of
Education
18 Admissions Bill
New Education Bill on admissions to schools
INTO Learning update
Training for officers and supports for staff
representatives
Budget 2019 19 INTO benefits and discounts
Save money with your Membership Plus
card
21 Promoting global goals
Schools display their wishing stones
22 Palestine
INTO member talks to InTouch about her
experience of teaching in Palestine
24 Letters page
Tell us what you think
INTO sub survey
9
INTO is gathering information on substitute
availability
25 Retirements
Keeping inTouch 14 INTO subscription Branches and districts honour retiring
INTO is moving to a members
3 Editorial
percentage-based membership
Budget 2019 disappoints subscription
inTo Advice
7 10 things you should know Job-sharing/temporary
Important information to be aware of this reassignment 27 Parent-teacher meetings
month INTO members can avail of free job-share Advice for teachers on preparing for
Connect with INTO and temporary reassignment online meetings with parents/guardians
InTouch election special registers 28 InTouch digital edition
15 INTO President’s dinner Members can now read InTouch online or
Galway event honours Joe Killeen on app
inTo news
16 Photograph from our past 29 Staying safe online
9 Budget 2019 Margaret Skinnider en route to the Make it a cyber-habit
Budget 2019 leaves primary education Phillipines 30 In Focus
underfunded
Dublin survey on PORs
10 Raise the roof rally
Athy Branch
celebrates INTO 150 10 InTouch profiles INTO’s Legal and Industrial
Relations Section
Rally demands action on the housing and
homeless crisis
13 INTO Taskforce on Participation
Report from Taskforce meeting in October
Teachmeet/Researchmeet at INTO
Education Conference
Want to share good practice, practical ideas
or personal insights?
Are you eligible for a CID?
Check if you are eligible for a contract of
indefinite duration
Revolutionising play
MIC/CRN joint conference
INTOUCH 4 NOVEMBER 2018
15 November 2018
35 New Minister for Education and 40 Healthy eating
Skills Scoil Mhuire wins visit from Foodoppi
Introducing Joe McHugh 42 Money matters
NUI study on diversity gap How to stretch your money further
NUI publishes study on diversity gap following the Budget
between the student and teacher
population
newsdesK
36 Cumann na mBunscol
Update from Cumann na
mBunscol general meeting
39
37 Teaching Council news
31 Primary Language Curriculum
l Re-vetting
l
NCCA supports for the new Primary Webinars on inclusion and student
Language Curriculum for junior infants to engagement
second class finishing Touches
New resource from Amnesty
32 What is NEPS? Free resource on Qatar World Cup ‘22 61 Noticeboard
An overview of the National Educational
Psychological Service Upcoming events
Life 62 Bumper Crossword
34 Education support for
developing countries 39 Tempted by Croatia? Win a Christmas Hamper from Comhar Linn
The Global Partnership of Education focuses Ciara McNally has some travel tips for 63 Scoilnet Panel
on education for children in the world’s travelling in Croatia Plus CBI recommended read for November
poorest countries
TeAching MATTers
Winabreakaway
45 PDST supports atLyrathEstate,
Kilkenny,see
Digital learning framework
competitionon
46 Fostering skills for life page48
Engaging with meaningful data
49 Science Apprentice 2018
58 Irish resources
Learn by asking and doing
Roald Dahl books in Irish
51 Glasnevin Cemetery
59 Reviews
Ireland and the Spanish Flu
Our reviewers suggest books and resources
52 Sea monitors for primary school children
Learning more about Ireland’s marine
territory plus a competition for primary
schools
53 Beginner chess games
November is National Chess Month
55 John F. Kennedy and
education
53 22 November marks the 55th
anniversary of JFK’s death
56 Nature awareness
Appreciating the natural world
56
INTOUCH 5 NOVEMBER 2018
Advertorial
The Programme
a systematic evidence-based approach to healthy eating
With Science Week 2018 just around the their overall eating habits. and parents. This is especially effective at
corner (11-18 November), what better way The good news is that children can be junior level, where junior pupils
to celebrate than to focus on the science helped to make healthier choices and to somewhat look up to the senior pupils,
behind the Food Dudes Healthy Eating increase their consumption of fruits and making for latent pupil learning
Programme! vegetables. And while this requires experiences i.e. older children seen as
Food education is on everyone’s concerted and effective behaviour role models in their school.
agenda. While there are numerous change intervention, with efforts from
initiatives to help equip children with both teachers and parents alike, it is but a 3. Rewards
food and nutrition education in the challenge and not an impossible task. There is evidence to suggest that rewards
kitchen, and empower them with lifelong can be highly effective in helping to bring
skills in the classroom, their reach and The science behind the programme about sustained changes in children’s
effectiveness differ greatly. We all know that eating habits formed in eating habits. During the Food Dudes
At primary level, food education runs childhood are considered fundamental to intervention period, participating
throughout the curriculum, and is not, on health in later life. However, research children are rewarded with responsibly
its own, a dedicated subject. Children shows that bringing about long-lasting produced items while post-intervention,
learn about nutrition and healthy eating improvements in children’s eating habits as new eating habits are formed, tangible
through the Social Personal and Health is not easy or straightforward. rewards are phased out and the focus
Education (SPHE) curricular strand where There is a great deal of interest switches to promoting long term
a range of elective, private and internationally in the area of behaviour consumption efforts using wall charts,
independent education programmes are change, not least because many of certificates and social praise.
available to teachers. modern society’s ills, be they health, Therefore, although the effectiveness
One of these programmes is the Food social or environmental problems, would of each of the three components can be
Dudes Healthy Eating Programme, which be lessened if we could all change our considered separately, it has been proven
encourages children to try fruit and behaviour in particular ways. that multi-component programmes that
vegetables and thereby increase In that context, effective programmes combine all three, result in greater
consumption amongst school children, use good scientific advice in their design change and long-lasting success.
and now has very wide reach. The with evidence-based interventions
programme is funded by the Department proving more effective in initiating Evaluations
of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with change i.e. increasing consumption of All evaluations have shown that Food
a contribution from the EU under the fruits and vegetables. Dudes intervention increases fruit and
school fruit and vegetables scheme and is Food Dudes, as an evidence-based vegetable consumption and that this is
managed by Bord Bia. A new improved behavioural change programme, is one of sustained. A longitudinal study by
programme was launched in August 2018 the most effective school-based healthy University College Dublin (UCD) in 2016,
to include new varieties of fruit and eating programmes there is. The showed that fruit and veg consumption
vegetables, additional tasting days, new programme has an intensive 16-day increased by 20% and 42%, respectively,
eco-friendly rewards and new supporting school-based intervention built on three and 6 years later, found that the same
materials including DVDs and a pillars of scientific merit: children were found to be consuming 13%
multilingual website. more fruit and 6% more vegetables than
1. Repeated tastings pre-Food Dudes intervention in 2010. The
Why do children eat too little fruit The more we taste a food, the more we sustained increase was significant if not as
and vegetables? learn to like it. Food Dudes offers children high as the immediate impact after the
Today’s challenge for parents and repeated tastings of four different fruits initial intervention.
teachers is to make it ‘cool’ or ‘trendy’ to and vegetables, twice, over 16 days. This As such, it can be seen that the Food
eat fruit and vegetables. This challenge is ensures that children are exposed to a Dudes healthy eating programme has
made all the greater because children variety of fresh produce in a fun and established itself as an integrated and
nowadays have greater access to media enjoyable way and, most importantly, in systematic intervention in Irish Primary
platforms (social, digital, print), so can sufficient duration to enable change. Schools and has successfully proven itself
easily form their own opinions and decide to have a positive impact on the healthy
for themselves what they choose to eat. 2. Role-modelling eating habits of Irish primary school
Children are continually bombarded with Children are very influenced by what they children. If your school is interested in
very attractive marketing campaigns and see others do, either in real life or on participating in the new programme, visit
exposed to readily available unhealthy media of various kinds. The Food Dudes www.fooddudes.ie.
foods, which compete to displace fruits programme exposes children to positive
and vegetables in their diet. role models in two forms: animated Dr Elizabeth Finnegan, Healthy Eating Programme
In addition, while availability of fruit cartoon characters and real-life peers i.e. Executive, Bord Bia
and vegetables is, of course, necessary, it classmates and friends, as well as teachers Elizabeth.Finnegan@BordBia.ie; 01 668 5155
is not always sufficient. Simply giving
children a piece of fruit or vegetable once WithfinancialSupport
or twice a week may have little impact on fromtheEuropeanUnion
INTOUCH 6 NOVEMBER 2018
Keepingintouch
Stay informed special issue
E-Newsletter of inTouch
INTO’s weekly e-newsletter with
important union news and
scheduled
education updates for members.
Subscribe to the INTO enewsletter at
into.newsweaver.ie
Social media
Follow the INTO on Facebook and
Twitter for all the latest news and
updates.
l Facebook: facebook.com/intonews
l Twitter: @intonews
Subsearch
A special eight-page edition of
InTouch will arrive in schools during
the week of 12 November.
This special issue will outline
details of candidates nominated by
INTO SubSearch is designed to help branches for the position of INTO
teachers find substitute work and to help substitutes in their area by date or General Secretary following the
principals find substitutes. location. decision of Sheila Nunan to retire in
Schools and substitutes register on Video tutorials and FAQs on how to use 2019.
subsearch.into.ie – substitutes can SubSearch are available on the website. The magazine will also outline
register their availability on the site while Subsearch mobile is now available for details of the ballot process.
principals can search for registered your smartphone.
things you should know
1 Budget 2019 explained.
Page 9 5 #WishingStones.
Page 21 8 An ghaeilge agus an
múinteoir náisiúnta.
Page 17
Raise the Roof. Tempted by Croatia?
2 Page 10 6 Page 39
9 InFocus: Legal and
Industrial Relations
INTO President’s dinner INTO advice: parent-
3 2018. Page 15 7 teacher meetings –
what you need to
Section. Page 30
The Digital Learning
4 Foodoppi winners
uncovered. Page 40-41 know. Page 27 10 Framework. Page 45
INTOUCH 7 NOVEMBER 2018
INTO News
5 e Irish National Teachers’ Organisation … who’s who, what’s new, and what’s happening 6
Budget 2019 leaves
primary education
underfunded
Budget 2019 was announced at 1.00 p.m. to better plan for this much needed work. for one additional release day for
on Tuesday, 9 October 2018. For the INTO, teaching principals and five additional
this represented the culmination of many Posts of responsibility (PORs) days for those in schools with special
months spent lobbying public During the recessionary period, a classes.
representatives, ministers and officials. moratorium on promotion in schools was Principals in special schools have
imposed. Almost 5,000 posts of had a particularly challenging time. The
School funding responsibility (PORs) were lost, severely INTO acknowledges the 23 administrative
The INTO has called for school funding to diminishing management teams in our deputy principal posts granted in this
be restored to pre-recession levels, having schools. These middle management posts Budget to special schools with a principal
dropped to less than one euro per pupil were positive steps on the career ladder and 15 or more class teachers. But Budget
per day. Schools are fundraising to meet for teachers and provided much needed 2019 did little to alleviate the impossible
basic expenses. Parents contribute support for overworked school leaders. It workload being placed on school leaders
enormous amounts of money to keep was disappointing that further restoration nor to support them as education leaders.
schools afloat. This funding model creates of these critical posts was not included in
unnecessary burdens on school principals the Budget. New entrant pay
and teachers. While there is a modest The recent proposed agreement on new
restoration, the Government’s increase in School leadership entrant pay was costed and included in
school funding of 5% will have no On the topic of our school leaders, the Budget 2019.
noticeable impact on the crisis in school INTO campaigned for one release day
funding. School funding will continue to per week for teaching principals who Class size
remain at less than one euro per pupil per are over-burdened and over-stretched Finally, there was no movement on
day. with an ever-increasing administrative class sizes. Budget 2018 had provided
workload in addition to their teaching some positive relief for oversubscribed
Minor Works Grant duties. The Budget took a step in the classes, but the Government chose
Confirmation that the Minor Works Grant right direction but falls well short of not to invest in our children’s right to
of €29 million will be paid in December or delivering one admin day per week for all bloom in smaller classes.
early January each year will help schools teaching principals. The Budget provides
Dublin survey on posts of responsibility
On foot of a Congress motion calling for promoted posts in 39 schools – an impacting on the running of schools. It
the full restoration of all promotional average of just over four posts per also highlighted the lack of career
posts lost under the moratorium, school. This can be broken down into 38 progression options for teachers who
Tallaght Branch conducted a survey of AP1 posts and 119 AP2 posts. wish to take on a management role.
all schools in the branch. A response The feedback received via the survey While schools with six teachers or less
rate of 93% was received. indicated that increased work demands, have had their posts fully restored,
The survey showed that, compared to coupled with inadequate middle schools above this threshold continue
2009 levels, schools had lost 157 management teams, are significantly to suffer with partial restoration only.
INTOUCH 9 NOVEMBER 2018
Idteagmháil
Raise the Roof rally
INTO joins with trade unions and other groups to demand action on housing crisis
The INTO general secretary, Sheila Nunan, Green Party, People Before Profit and homeless emergency.
led an INTO delegation to the Raise the Independents-4Change. It also had the • An increase in capital spending on
Roof rally which took place outside support of a wide range of trade unions, housing.
Leinster House on Wednesday, 3 October. housing agencies, and community and • An end to evictions into homelessness.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions had campaign groups representing tens of • Real rent controls.
called the lunchtime rally on the housing thousands of people across all sectors of • An increase in public and affordable
and homeless crisis. our society. The motion demanded radical housing in private developments.
The rally coincided with a cross-party action on the housing crisis and strongly
opposition motion to be debated in the reflects the key points set out in the Although the motion was carried,
Dáil on the same day. The motion was Congress Charter for Housing Rights. (supported by 83 votes, with one TD
supported by Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, The motion called for: abstaining and 43 voting against it) it is
Fianna Fáil, the Social Democrats, the • A declaration of a housing and not binding on the government.
SheilaNunan,INTO
GeneralSecretary,
speakingattheRaise
theRoofrallyatwhich
INTOwerepartofthe
largeattendance
Delegates passed the following resolution regarding homelessness at Congress 2017
Homelessness (iv) many thousands of families are in danger of being made homeless;
Congress: b. believes that lack of a proper and stable home impacts severely on the
a. deplores the facts that: ability of children to access education and learning;
(i) over 2,500 children are currently homeless in Ireland; c. calls for immediate investment in social housing to ensure that all the
(ii) approximately 1,500 children are currently housed in direct provision children in our schools and their families have access to adequate housing;
centres; and
(iii) over 1,500 Traveller families currently live in overcrowded or unsafe d. instructs the CEC to enter an ongoing campaign to engage with other trade
conditions; unions and active groupings in achieving the eradication of homelessness.
INTOUCH 10 NOVEMBER 2018
INTOnews
INTO Taskforce on Participation meets
The INTO Taskforce on Participation,
which was established on foot of a
resolution from Annual Congress in April,
met in September and again in October.
The Taskforce considered a wide-ranging
agenda and will be proposing
recommendations to Annual Congress
with a view to increasing engagement
and participation at all levels within the
structures of the Organisation. Amongst
the items discussed was INTO
communications and, in particular, the
use of social media along with Head
Office supports. The Taskforce also
reviewed the previous recommendations MembersoftheTaskforceonParticipationmeetinginOctober
of various projects, initiatives and taskforces.
The group considered the role of the staff provided for by Rule. An in-depth members who undertake such roles in the
representative and branch organiser as discussion about further supports for context of INTO structures also took place.
Teachmeet/Researchmeet at INTO Education Conference
Following on from the positive response last year, the INTO (2 minute) or a macro (5 minute) presentation.
will host another Teachmeet and Researchmeet at the 2018 e Researchmeet offers delegates to the conference another
Education Conference in the Hodson Bay Hotel on 16/17 excellent opportunity to share their research findings with other
November. e INTO would like to encourage delegates teaching colleagues. is year we are particularly interested in
nominated to attend the 2018 Education Conference to present hearing from teachers who are completing/have completed
at Teachmeet and/or Researchmeet. research in the broad area of the teaching profession.
As the theme of the 2018 Conference is ‘e Teaching If you are interested in presenting at Teachmeet and/or
Profession – 150 years on’, the Teachmeet is calling on delegates Researchmeet, please forward a short expression of interest to
to share good practice, practical ideas and personal insights Maeve at mmc@into.ie by Friday, 9 November at 5 p.m. or call
into their role as a teacher. Delegates can opt to present a nano 01-8047776 for more details.
revolutionising play Have you eligibility for
Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and the Children’s The conference was attended by initial teacher
Research Network (CRN) jointly organised an education educators, primary teachers and pre-
the award of a Contract
international play conference in September on the school practitioners. Professor Peter Gray, Boston
theme of ‘Revolutionising Play, Perspectives, College and Adam Harris, CEO AsIAm.ie provided
of Indefinite Duration?
Possibilities and Promise’. keynote addresses. Teachers who have continuous
service in excess of two years with
the same school and who are
covering a viable post for the
duration of the 2018/19 school
JoeKilleen,INTO year may be eligible for the
President;ÁineMc award of a Contract of Indefinite
Ginley,CECDistrict3; Duration (CID).
MaeveMcCafferty, The award may be made
INTOOfficialand provided that the conditions as per
EugeneWall, Circular 23/2015 are also met. The
President,Mary following is also useful for further
ImmaculateCollege. information: FAQs on contracts of
indefinite duration:
www.into.ie/ROI/InfoforTeachers/
Staffing/AppointmentofFixedTerm
Teachers/CID_FAQ_Feb2018.pdf
INTOUCH 13 NOVEMBER 2018
NuachtCMÉ
Move to a percentage-based INTO membership
subscription – some examples
Following a decision of Annual Congress The new system means that members will excluding promotion allowance, are
2018, the INTO is changing our pay the same proportion of salary in €68,114). Ger is also subject to the cap;
membership subscription from flat rates subscription, whereas a flat rate was more subscription from January is €14.57, up
to a percentage-based amount. The onerous for those earning less. The €1.22.
percentage agreed by Congress, to apply capping mechanism ensures there is a
from January 2019, is 0.75% of scale salary maximum, limiting the amount payable. No member pays more than highest
plus academic allowances (responsibility previous rate
allowances are not included in salary for Examples of the revised rates One of the guidelines adopted in setting
this purpose), capped at 0.75% of point 11 • Jonathan has just entered teaching and a subscription cap was that no member
on the post-2010 pay scale. is on point 1 (€36,318). His subscription would pay above the highest previous
This cap (point 11) currently stands at from January 2019 is €10.48, down €2.87 level of €14.85 per fortnight (which was
€50,499. Therefore, the main annual per fortnight on the current rate. in place prior to a general reduction,
subscription rate will be in a range • Úna is on point 3 of the post-2010 scale following pay cuts, in 2011). As seen in
between €272.39 (0.75% of scale point 1) (€39,501). Her INTO subscription will be the examples, the maximum payable
and €378.74 (0.75% of point 11). €11.40 per payslip, a reduction of €1.95. from January 2019 is €14.57 per fortnight.
• Seán is on point 7 of the post-2010 scale This is €1.22 above the current flat rate
Per fortnight rates (€44,162). His subscription from January but €0.28 per fortnight below the
The flat rate varied over the years, is €12.74 per fortnight, down €0.61. previous maximum, and applies only
following decisions of Annual Congress, • Aoife is on point 9 of the pre-2011 scale where a member earns (between scale
with the current main rate at €347.10 per with a pass degree (€47,324). Her and academic allowances) €50,499 or
annum. Its previous level (up to 2011) subscription will be €13.65, up €0.30. more. Every member earning below
stood at €386.10. The subscription • Louise is on point 16 of the pre-2011 this level pays less. And no matter
appears on payslips as €13.35 per scale with an honours degree (€58,563). how much above the cap that a member
fortnight; the previous rate was €14.85 per She also has an AP2 post which is earns, their subscription cannot be
fortnight. The rate from 2019 will appear excluded when calculating the INTO more than 0.75% of point 11 of the
on payslips as an amount in the range sub. Her subscription from January, scale.
€10.48 to €14.57 per fortnight. limited by the cap, is €14.57, up €1.22.
As set out in October’s InTouch, the • Ger is at the top of the scale with an Next month: What the percentage rate will mean
0.75% rate is designed to maintain the honours allowance and is principal of a for members currently on other subscription
INTO’s annual subscription income, 9-teacher school (total earnings models (e.g. substitute teacher members) and
without either increasing or reducing it. €80,352; earnings for calculation, how the new system will be reviewed.
want to job-share or apply for
temporary reassignment
Would you like to put your name on the Details will not be accepted by phone
INTO job-share register or the temporary or by email but if you would like to
reassignment register? amend or remove your details from the
INTO members can avail of the benefit register at any time please email
of the free job-share and temporary carak@into.ie
reassignment online registers available in The job-sharing scheme is outlined in
the Members’ Area of the INTO website. Chapter 9 of Terms & Conditions of
The purpose of these registers is to Employment for Registered Teachers in
facilitate teachers making contact with Recognised Primary and Post Primary
potential partners for job-share/ Schools If this is your first time
temporary reassignment. (www.into.ie/ROI/InfoforTeachers/Staffing logging in to the INTO
You will be able to add your details /Downloads/Chapter9_JobSharingSchem
from early November and the first version e.pdf) and the temporary reassignment Members’ Area you will
of both registers will publish on 15 scheme is detailed in Circular 12/2018 need to create an
November. The registers will be updated (www.into.ie/ROI/InfoforTeachers/Circular account by clicking on
on a regular basis right up to the closing s/Circulars2018/cl0012_2018.pdf). the ‘New User’ link on
date for applications of 1 February for Please note that the INTO has no role in
job-share and 1 March 2019 for temporary matching or approving job-sharing or the homepage of
reassignment. temporary reassignment arrangements. www.into.ie
INTOUCH 14 NOVEMBER 2018INTOnews
INTO President’s Dinner
The annual INTO President’s Dinner took place in the Galmont Hotel, Galway in October.
Over 300 guests attended the evening in honour of INTO president, Joe Killeen.
L-R:TommyGreally
(CEC),SiobhánLynskey,
MarionFahey,Annette
Regan,PaddyForde,
MichaelGallagher,Eoin
Fenton,AnnComyn,
OrlaMhicAogáin
Below:INTOpresident
JoeKilleenwith
membersofhisfamily
INTOpresident,JoeKilleen,
withAnnetteRegan,District
6chair
PhotographsbyBrendan
O’Dwyer
checkmates
Joe Killeen, INTO President, recently
took time out of his busy schedule to
attend the sixth class graduation in
Lough Cutra NS, Gort, Co Galway.
Joe is principal of the school and is
pictured here playing a game of
draughts with Darragh Bradbury at
the graduation. Unfortunately for
Joe, Darragh won the game!
JoeispicturedatthegraduationwithDarragh.
INTOUCH 15 NOVEMBER 2018NuachtCMÉ
Photograph from our past
INTO President Margaret Skinnider en route to the Phillipines
In this photograph, INTO President
Margaret Skinnider is on the steps of a
plane at Dublin Airport en route to the
Philippines for the World Conference of
the Organisations of the Teaching
Profession (now Education International).
e president’s long journey took place in
the summer of 1956 and, on her return,
she wrote a series of articles for the INTO
journal about her impressions and her
experiences of the international
conference and of the Philippines.
Scottish-born Skinnider was notable
for being a combatant during the Easter
Rising of 1916 where she was gravely
injured. Later moving to Ireland, she
became a teacher in inner city Dublin,
was active in the INTO and became the long running was then simmering. is Dublin Strike of 1946. He defeated the
fourth woman president in the mid-1950s. concerned the takeover by Christian man in the hat beside him for the
ose seeing the president off to Manila Brothers of a lay school, and with it the position of general secretary in an
(in the days when airport security was key promoted position of principal. election in 1947 and remained in that
clearly not what it is now) are themselves e man in the centre with the hat is office until 1967.
each interesting figures in the INTO story. INTO general secretary Dave Kelleher. Finally, the man to the right is M.P.
e man shaking hands with Margaret From Co Cork, Kelleher taught in Linehan, also a Cork native and general
Skinnider is INTO vice-president Liam Dublin, was elected to the INTO treasurer of INTO. He had already served
O’Reilly, a teacher in Ballina where a Executive Committee and had been for almost 30 years at INTO Head Office
dispute which would become bitter and president for the later months of the when this photograph was taken.
Athy Branch celebrates inTo 150
Athy Branch held a celebration to mark evening was a roaring success and was
INTO 150, coinciding with its May meeting. marked with the launch of the Athy
The branch committee invited retired Branch archive. Members past and
members to join the celebrations for a present were invited to bring stories
BBQ and celebratory cake, which was and photographs of Congress,
jointly cut by Athy’s most senior retiree marches, strikes etc., which will now
(Frank McNulty) and the branch's form part of the branch archive for
newest member (Joy Watson). The members for generations to come.
INTOUCH 16 NOVEMBER 2018INTOnews
An Ghaeilge agus an
Múinteoir Náisiúnta
INTO 150 event in Marino Institute of Education
D’eagraigh Cumann Múinteoirí Éireann Chuir Joe Killeen, Uachtarán CMÉ Oideachais Marino; John Boyle,
díospóireacht i gcomhar le hInstitiúid agus Aodán Mac Suibhne, Ceann na Príomhoide scoile Baile Átha Cliath (iar
Oideachais Marino mar chuid de Roinne Gaeilge, IOM, fáilte roimh an Uachtarán INTO); Treasa Kirk, Cigire
cheiliúradh 150 bliain Chumann lucht éisteachta. B’é Páidí Ó Lionaird ón Roinn Oideachais agus Dónal Ó
Múinteoirí Éireann, ar an Máirt 16 (TG4) a bhí sa chathaoir agus bhí deis ag hAiniféin, Cathaoirleach, An
Deireadh Fómhair i Marino. ‘An an lucht éisteachta ceisteanna a chur ar Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta
Ghaeilge agus an Múinteoir Náisiúnta’ an bpainéal. Ar an bpainéal bhí Teresa agus príomhoide scoile. Cuireadh
an téama a bhí i gceist. O’Doherty, Uachtarán Institiúid ceisteanna ar na téamaí seo a leanas:
Conas tuismitheoirí a spreagadh le
tacú le foghlaim na Gaeilge; An tionchar
atá ag na meáin shóisialta; Caighdeán
Gaeilge ar fhágáil an choláiste seachas
caighdeán iontrála; Úsáid CLIL mar
mhodh teagaisc teanga, agus An chúis a
mhúintear Gaeilge nuair nach mbíonn
deiseanna ag daltaí an méid a
fhoghlaimíonn siad a úsáid.
Don chéad uair, deineadh an
díospóireacht a chraoladh beo ar líne.
Bhí deis ann ceisteanna a chur ag an
bpainéal trí Twitter chomh maith.
Beidh an díospóireacht ar fáil ar line
ar suíomh Youtube @INTOnews
Aglabhairtaganócáidbhí:PáidíÓLionáird,
cathaoirleachnadíospóireacht,TreasaKirk,Teresa
O’DohertyagusDónalÓhAiniféin.
JoeKilleen,Uachtarán,
agcurfáilteroimhan
luchtéisteachta.
DeirbhileNicCraith,
INTODirectorof
EducationandResearch
agandíospóireacht
INTOUCH 17 NOVEMBER 2018NuachtCMÉ
Changes to school admissions
The former Minister for Education, Richard been commenced are as follows: including the following:
Bruton TD, commenced four sections of l Section 8 – allowing, from 3 December l The preparation/drafting of
the new Education (Admissions to 2018, the National Council for Special admissions policies.
Schools) Act, 2018 on 3 October 2018. The Education (NCSE) to designate a l Annual admissions notice.
Act has been a long time in gestation with school to open a special class l Prioritising admissions criteria.
different iterations of the Bill. The Act is “following a number of steps”. l The role of the principal in admissions.
intended to respond to the demand from l Section 9 – prohibiting the charging l Section 29 Appeals.
parents/the public for more transparency of fees as a condition of admission. l The role of the patron and the
in schools’ admissions policies and l Section 9 – requiring schools to co- minister
procedures and, in particular, to address operate in relation to admissions. INTO Head Office has commenced
what has come to be known colloquially l Section 11 – prohibiting the use of negotiations with Management and the
as the ‘baptism barrier’. Prior to its religion as a criterion in admissions NCSE in relation to the implementation of
enactment, the matter of schools except in the case of a minority the Act and its impact for schools. In
admissions had been the subject of religion. The Education (Admission to addition, the INTO’s Legal and Industrial
various High and Supreme Court Schools) Act, 2018 amends the equal Relations Section is currently preparing a
judgements and topical discussion – status legislation in order to give Questions & Answers Guide on the new
particularly in geographical areas where effect to this provision. legislation which will be published in a
schools are over subscribed on a regular The remainder of the Act has not been forthcoming issue of InTouch. The topic is
basis. commenced and the sections not also being covered in the current series of
The sections of the Act which have commenced deal with a range of matters INTO Principals’ Seminars.
INTO Learning update
INTO officers briefed on current issues
The last of five regional INTO officer and 9 and in Mullingar for districts 5, 14 employment and legal and industrial
training sessions takes place in and 15. relations issues.
Kilkenny this month for districts 10 These sessions provide INTO officers Officers were updated on the
and 11. with an opportunity to discuss current work of the INTO Taskforce on
Last month regional training issues – in particular the details of the Participation and time was also
sessions were held in Sligo for districts pay deal balloted upon last month. afforded to districts to plan for local
3, 4 and 6, in Charleville for districts 12, The session also included updates on events for staff representatives and
13 and 16, in Tullamore for districts 7, 8 professional, conditions of new members.
Supports for INTO staff representatives
If you are an INTO staff rep please ensure l Module 1: Staff Representative Role and
your branch secretary knows your details. Responsibilities
Branches are currently organising local l Module 2: INTO Structures and
events for staff reps and new members Communications
that will afford an opportunity to get to l Module 3: Teacher Employment Terms
know INTO structures and procedures, and Conditions
know who’s who in our union and provide l Module 4: Managing Workplace
a space for discussion and questions. Relationships
Other supports available to staff reps
include an online support course. The For further details see
course comprises four modules and will www.into.ie/ROI/INTOLearningand
remain online until June 2019: Training/StaffRepresentativesCourse/
INTOUCH 18 NOVEMBER 2018INTOnews
Enjoy your new 2018/20
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The Membership plus App is available to download
Our app brings over 1,500 offers to your Leave reviews Play for compatible
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or find somewhere new where you can other members. search for ‘Membership
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Find offers on the go Let the Membership Plus team Membership Plus offer
Whether you are out and about or know where you would like to categories
relaxing at home, see what offers are save with your INTO On our website and mobile
close to you. Membership Plus card – app, offers are categorised
directly from the app! into the following: days out,
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Keep track of the offers you have used or Free to download and beauty, holidays and
save new offers to ‘My Offers’ so you can Available from the App Store travel, home and lifestyle,
come back to them again and again. for the iPhone and Google and sports and fitness.
Mulranny park hotel competition
Congratulations to Fiona was the winner of two nights’ luxurious Fiona also won a breadmaking cooking
Fiona Morrissey! accommodation in a Deluxe Suite in Mulranny demonstration and a ticket to the Gala
Park Hotel which overlooks Clew Bay and the Gourmet Dinner in the hotel in April. This
majestic Croagh Patrick mountain. A full Irish includes accommodation for one night with a
breakfast is included each morning. full Irish breakfast the following morning.
ForcompetitiontermsandconditionscontactGNMulrannyParkHotelatwww.mulrannyparkhotel.ie
INTOUCH 19 NOVEMBER 2018INTOnews
#WishingStones – promoting global goals
While the national event was taking Wednesday, 17 October. Schools from @INTOnews, but here is a very small
place at the Poverty Stone in Dublin’s Faugher in Donegal, to Claregalway, selection of the wonderful efforts of all
docklands, marking UN Eradicate Carnaross, Balbriggan and around the teachers and pupils around the
Poverty Day and highlighting Global Dublin City, sent photos through social country.
Goal No. 1 of the Sustainable media of their marvellous stone displays, INTO Global Citizenship school
Development Goals, primary schools all inscribed with their wishes for the future. thanks everyone who made the huge
around Ireland were displaying their All those that posted were re-tweeted effort to take part. Make it a date for
support through #WishingStones on on the INTO Twitter account next year!
CarysfortNSinArklowshareda
pictureoftheirstones
GatheringatthePovertyStoneinDublin’sdocklands.
AsaGlobalCitizenship
School,CarnarossNS,Co
Meath,wantedtoshow
theirsolidaritywith
everyonearoundtheworld
affectedbypoverty.
Someofthe Seniorinfantsin
manywisheson BalbrigganETNS
stonesfromSt designedstonesfor
Laurence’sNS, theInternationalDay
Baldoyle. fortheEradicationof
Poverty.
INTOUCH 21 NOVEMBER 2018NuachtCMÉ
A teacher’s view of Palestine
AnIrishteachertalkstoInTouch aboutherexperienceteachingintheWestBank
Why did you choose to give up your
summer break to go and teach in
Palestine?
I was always very interested in
disadvantaged education and that
spreads beyond our own country. I was
aware of children in other countries for
whom education wasn’t as freely available
or as well resourced as it might be here.
Even though I know we have our own
difficulties here, I wanted to learn from
working with those children and their
teachers and also see if I could make a
positive contribution there.
Where did you visit in Palestine?
I was in the occupied territories in the Topright:PartoftheIsraeli
West Bank. Gaza, at the time, was blocked ‘security’wallsurroundingthe
off to visitors and my visit coincided with townofBethlehem.
a lot of trouble concerning the Al Aqsa Top:BoysfromAlFawwarBoys’
Mosque. As we couldn’t visit Gaza, we Schoolenjoyingafootball
were contained in the West Bank. I spent tournament.
most of the summer living in Al Fawwar Left:BanneroutsideChurchofthe
refugee camp which is about eight NativityinBethlehem(refersto
kilometres south of Hebron, (the local figuresfrom2017).
people call it Al Khalil), and I travelled into
Hebron each day. I also visited other
towns within the West Bank because it’s
quite small in comparison with Ireland. It impacts on every facet of their lives. people and you put a face to names,
We were in Ramallah, Nablus and Jericho. people become compassionate and
Was it difficult getting into Palestine? emotional about it. Some of my friends
Did you have any difficulty moving My difficulty was getting out, because also had difficulty getting out, even
around Palestine as an Irish citizen? they suspected I had spent time in the though we had letters from the UN
We did, but it quickly became apparent to West Bank. I was held at gunpoint, in the entitling us to be there.
me that my difficulties were minimal sunshine, for four hours. I was then
compared to the Palestinians who lived ‘randomly’ selected three times for When you talk about camps, can you
there. Hebron is split into two areas, H1 and searches. I was detained and only released explain what you mean?
H2, and has been under military 40 minutes before my flight. Everything On 15 May 1948, during Al Nakba or The
occupation for a long time. There are was broken in my bag, personal items, Catastrophe, Palestinian people were
checkpoints at the end of each road. At gifts etc were destroyed. It was horrific for violently expelled from their homes. In
many of these checkpoints the locals me. They took all my personal items from the camp that I visited, people had been
weren’t able to pass through, but we were my hand luggage, including underwear, refugees since that time. When they first
as we had foreign passports. However, you and placed it on display on a table for all moved to the refugee camps they were
might be kept waiting for up to an hour in the Israelis to laugh at. Only myself, living in tents and under fabric, or
500 heat. You could be held at gunpoint another white girl and any Arabs travelling whatever they could find. UNWRA (United
and questioned repeatedly. Also, you were detained like this. Nations Relief and Works Agency for
didn’t know, when you passed through a Palestine Refugees), went in, and set up
checkpoint, if you’d be allowed to pass Why do you think, as an Irish teacher, what were intended to be short-term
back. Those experiences just showed me you were subjected to that treatment? facilities, but they haven’t been replaced
how difficult it is for the people who live It’s my belief that I was held and treated in since. There are schools and clinics, but
there. Unemployment is very high but this that fashion because I had spent six they are functioning on foreign aid. This
isn’t because their skills are low. There is a weeks in the camps. They don’t like aid has been cut twice in the last few
high level of education there and people external people going in and spending months and, just recently, the US has cut
can be unemployed for several reasons. time there, seeing the way people are their contribution to it altogether. People
Trying to get to work through the treated, and going back and telling their live in concrete buildings that sprang up
checkpoints can be difficult. They might colleagues which raises awareness. When from tents. There was no planning. Water
also want to go to football training or to you see numbers or statistics it’s one is a massive issue because the Israelis are
school and can be blocked at a checkpoint. thing, but when you actually see real live diverting water to their illegal settlements
INTOUCH 22 NOVEMBER 2018INTOnews
in the Occupied Territories. In the camp I child is struggling, it is very difficult for the Palestinians where I was. I am aware of
was living in, there was no water on a teacher to help them because there can the way that the media portray the
regular basis. Flushing toilets is a big be up to 60 children in a classroom. There situation. I think that it’s very important to
problem. We were only there for six are very little resources to begin with, note that Hebron is under military
weeks, what about the people living with there are no SNAs or classroom assistants. occupation and has been now for an
this throughout the year? They are also paid incredibly poorly, which exceedingly long time. It makes it very
means they can find it difficult to feed difficult for students to grow up and to
Can you give us an idea of what it’s their own families, whether they’re from succeed in education, as we would all
like for a child living in these camps? the camps or not. On top of that, hope for our children in Ireland. I was
Conditions are cruel, I suppose is the word sometimes their wages don’t come treated poorly on several occasions by the
for it. The children are woken up at night through which is very difficult when you IDF soldiers. However, I felt the opposite
regularly when the camp is shut off by are already living in near poverty. from Palestinian police and soldiers. They
soldiers. Basically, if anything happens in were genuinely intrigued as to why we
the Occupied Territories, regardless of the What obstacles are there for were there.
nature of it, the soldiers cut off the camp. Palestinian children accessing
This means that they stand at the one education? What can we, as Irish teachers, do to
entrance to the camp with guns. People For Palestinian children who live in the help or connect our school to schools
aren’t allowed to enter or exit. This might camps there are the UNWRA schools. in Palestine?
mean that if you’ve a hospital However the UNWRA schools ’ financial It is important that, as teachers, we take
appointment you simply can’t attend. If support’ has been cut so finely that it an interest in this, because, as educators
you have a job, you can’t go to work. means the children can attend, but they we want children to progress and do well
Children see this. There are regular raids on might not get adequate books or and we should hope that children all over
the camp. For example, while I was there, resources. Also, I felt that there was a the world can do so too. These are
one of the people we had met put up a great pressure on the children to succeed children who are at risk.
Facebook status saying that a previous raid in education because it was, possibly, The first thing I would recommend is to
on the camp had been unfair. Soldiers their only avenue to success in the future. educate yourself about this topic. Read
came in and attacked his wife. He was They want to do well and have incredible more about it and attend meetings. The
arrested at gunpoint. He’s still in prison and pride in who they are. There are other Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign
we still don’t know what will become of obstacles, such as camp being closed, the (IPSC) (and SADAKA) arrange information
him. The children witness this. There are a lack of basic facilities such as water or talks and events and teachers could
lot of children who are growing up without electricity. They may have witnessed their attend these and bring their own
two parents in the household for this father, brother or uncle being arrested, perspectives to this issue. Unfortunately,
reason. Food is, to a certain degree, scarce rightly or wrongly. Many of the children it’s not possible to send letters or
as they can’t import food because imports have recently lost family members. In packages. Some only received post that
are blocked. They have very highly trained Ireland, we have resources available such was withheld from them for many years.
people, such as nurses and doctors, and as counselling and play-therapy, but If possible, with help, principals or
the education system is very strong, but these are not available over there. teachers might be interested in setting
they are all working with old and very up an email system, where classes could
limited facilities. The media paints a certain picture of email pictures and stories and hopefully
life in the Occupied Territories. Did they would get these through to the
What is life like for teachers? you witness any acts of aggression schools in Palestine.
I think life is very difficult for the teachers. from either side of the conflict while If you are interested and want to visit a
They’ve entered into a job because they you were there? camp, to see what it is really like, I
love to teach and to help children, but The West Bank is an area that is under travelled with a group called Unipal
they’re faced with the prospect of very occupation by Israeli soldiers. It is not part (unipal.org.uk) You’ll need to do an
large classes and very little financial aid. of Israel. But, there are a number of illegal interview and they will provide training. It
They are under pressure to help the settlements within it and they are ever- was an incredibly well-structured trip and
children to attain the highest scores they growing. The IDF were extremely I feel I gained greatly from it.
can, because the parents and the children aggressive towards us on many occasions.
want to achieve third-level education. If a I was never treated aggressively by any SINEAD’s full contact details are with the editor
INTO and Palestine INTO support for Trade Union Friends of
At Congress 2018, motion 13 was passed calling on the CEC to implement a Palestine (TUFP)
number of initiatives to inform and raise the awareness of INTO members on TUFP was established by the Northern Ireland committee of the Irish Congress
the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis in Palestine. The text of that of Trade Unions (ICTU) in 2006 to help promote the policy adopted at its
motion, along with the information to be published in relation to the UN Biennial Delegate Conference in 2005 to ‘Campaign in solidarity with the
Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia report, entitled Israeli Palestinian people’. The ICTU was subsequently mandated by conference to also
Practices towards the Palestinian People and the Question of Apartheid is establish TUFP in the Republic of Ireland. The INTO has also supported TUFP by
available on the INTO website under the global solidarity pages facilitating fringe meetings at Congress over the last two years and these
www.into.ie/ROI/GlobalSolidarityNetwork events have proven very popular with delegates.
INTOUCH 23 NOVEMBER 2018You can also read
