Intouch AprilMay 2015

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Issue No 152 April/May 2015 ISSN 1393-4813 (Print) ISSN 2009-6887 (Online)

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Keeping in Touch Interactive dialogue with members, and key news items

GENERAL SECRETARY’S COMMENT

Thank you to the Organising Committee of Congress 2015 for all your hard work from all who attended Congress in Ennis this year.

Pictured: Back row (left to right), Jim Chambers, Sharon Brady, Bríd Nolan Sheedy, Gearóid Roughan.

Front row (left to right), Bríd Finnegan (Chair), Deirbhile Kelleher, Mary Curley (Secretary), Sharon O’Flynn, Mary Rockett.

Missing from photo are: Mary Browne (Treasurer) and Mary O’Donoghue.

Standing up for education!

T

his edition of InTouch reports in detail on the business of INTO Annual Congress which is at the heart of the union’s democratic decision making process.

For three days during the Easter holidays, INTO members gave of their time and expertise to represent the views and concerns of their teaching colleagues. Motions put forward by members through INTO branches and districts seeking change and improvements in teachers’ pay and conditions along with proposals for an improved primary education system were expertly debated and passionately discussed.

Teachers do this because they care. They care about education policy that is divorced from the real needs of teachers, pupils and their parents. They care about aspects of the education system that fail basic tests of equality and fairness. They care about failures to adequately resource primary education and to properly support those who work in primary schools.

Throughout Congress, while firmly putting pay top of the agenda, delegates rightly denounced underfunded

InTouch April/May 2015

schools, over-crowded classes, the lack of promotion and excessive workload. The concerns of newly qualified teachers were clearly heard as were the issues affecting members in special education and school leadership.

The agenda for the coming year has been decided by the membership. And all of us must now work together to seek to progress that agenda. Every INTO member has a part to play, no matter how small.

We need to get key messages understood not just by politicians and policy makers but by school management, school communities, parents, family members and friends. Among these are that classes in Irish primary schools are the most overcrowded in the Eurozone, primary schools are underfunded relative to other parts of the system and we need a fairer funding formula and that school leadership is at breaking point.

I urge everyone to take up this challenge.

3

Contents Keeping InTouch 3 Editorial Standing up for primary education!

What you need to know 7 • Twitter@Congress

Sean McMahon, INTO President 2014/15 addressing Congress.

For reports from Congress see pages 39-47

INTO News In the News 13 • Incoming INTO 14

• 10 things you should know • Wellness365 seminars 9 • Letters page 10 • Interested in becoming a district training organiser?

• Presidential Dinner 2015 • INTO retirement gifts and certificates

15 16

Let us know what you think.

Draw for 50 voucher for letter writers each month. Keep upto-date via Twitter, website e-newsletter or RSS feed

20 21

17

19

22

Northern news: pgs 35-38

23

president and vice president • Annual Members’ Draw • Teachers travel to India with Global Schoolroom • New CEC representatives • The Economic crisis and global labour challenges • Billy Sheehan appointed as general secretary of RTAI • New appointments in Head Office • Interim report on teacher workload, stress & resilience • Class size in Ireland • Vacancies for assistant general secretaries in Head Office • Health Insurance: Lifetime Community Rating – deadline • Summer Works Scheme • Jamie Wall thanks members for their support • Check out summer courses from INTO Learning

25 In the Media • Recent media coverage

27 Solidarity School year wall planner inserted with this issue of InTouch InTouch General Editor: Sheila Nunan

circulated education magazine in Ireland.

Editor: Peter Mullan

Articles published in InTouch are also available

Assistant Editor: Lori Kealy

on our website www.into.ie

Editorial Assistants: Yvonne Kenny, Niamh Corduff, Aoife Carton Advertising: Mary Bird Smyth, Aoife Carton Design: David Cooke

endorsed by the INTO. While every care has been taken to ensure that the information contained in this

Correspondence to: The Editor, InTouch,

publication is up to date and correct, no

INTO Head Office, Vere Foster House,

responsibility will be taken by the Irish National

35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1

Teachers’ Organisation for any error which

Fax: 01 872 2462

4

The views expressed in this journal are those of the individual authors and are not necessarily

Photography: Moya Nolan, Shutterstock

Telephone: 01 804 7700

INTO Special Education Conference pgs 49-51.

Pictured enjoying a break at the conference were Maria Donovan, Scoil Iosaf, Newcastlewest, Aileen Lynch and Fiona Enright from Head Office.

Photograph Liam Burke/Press 22

• Kathryn Gibbons on her time in Uganda

might occur.

Except where the Irish National Teachers’

LoCall: 1850 708 708

Organisation has formally negotiated

Email: editor@into.ie Website: www.into.ie/m.into.ie

agreements as part of its services to members,

InTouch is published by the Irish National

any form of recommendation. While every

Teachers’ Organisation and

effort is made to ensure the reliability of

distributed to members and educational

advertisers, the INTO cannot accept liability for

institutions. InTouch is the most widely

the quality of goods and services offered.

inclusion of an advertisement does not imply

InTouch April/May 2015

Fit4Skool pg 64

INTO Advice

Annual Congress 2015

31 School Leadership

39 • President’s address to

• A European dimension • Leadership seminars and summer courses

40

32 Newly Qualified Teachers • Useful checklist for NQTs

41

33 Understanding your payslip 42 45

• Income tax

34 Managing your money • Setting your savings goal

46 47

Northern News 35 Education Cuts • Northern members protest against education cuts

37 Northern Conference

Congress • Minister for Education & Skills outlines her vision for education • Northern minister asks unions to work with politicians against austerity • Standing up for education!

Sheila Nunan responds to minister • Congress resolutions • Congress pays tribute to Maureen Cronin • Global Citizenship School launched by INTO • Your view of Congress • Snapshots from Congress • INTO honours outgoing general secretary of RTAI • Tom Healy on economics and children’s education

Special Ed Conference

April/May 2015

Newsdesk 53 • Learning from the evaluation of DEIS – new ESRI research 56 • Cumann na mBunscol Awards 2015 57 • Go Games launched • Comhar Linn Draw

Teaching Matters

Finishing Touches 77 Noticeboard Upcoming events

78 Comhar Linn Crossword plus Dublin school receives donation of ten iPads

79 Scoilnet Panel and farm safety for kids

59 Poets in the news Enda Wyley is elected into Aosdana and Simon Lewis wins Hennessey Emerging Poetry Award

61 ICT Tips PDST on alternative presentation technologies

64 Fit4Skool New online resource promotes fitness and healthy eating

67 Travel Tips 49 • Rebuilding special

• Report from Northern Conference 2015

38 Cost of teacher stress

education – three pages of reports from the INTO Special Education Conference

• Figures supplied to INTO show costs exceed 10m

Selina Campbell sees stars, surf and snow in Chile

69 Pencil Case Appeal Clowns for Haiti build bridges between Irish and Haitian schools

INTO STSG National Go Games pg 57

Adopt a tree pg 70–71 Poster of INTO Learning Summer courses included in InTouch packs for schools.

Please display on your notice boards.

Extending a warm welcome to members since 1988

70 SESE Tips School gardening notes from Paddy Madden Understanding your payslip – Income tax 73 Irish Resources Tips from COGG pg 33

Cover pic

75 Reviews Sharon Kennedy, Dublin City South West Branch, proposes a motion on probation to Congress Photographer: Moya Nolan

InTouch April/May 2015

Critical thinking, mindfullness and getting in touch with a mystery

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Keeping InTouch

Twitter@Congress Thank you to delegates and other members who participated and kept up to date via Twitter at Congress 2015.

Many members joined the conversation at INTOcongress15 and your tweets

earned 822,869 impressions over the three days of Congress (this figure included 160,000 impressions on the @INTOnews account).

There were: 647 tweets in total relating to INTO congress issues; 464 favourites – on average 155 favourites per day.

Keep up with the latest INTO news via Twitter Follow @INTOnews

@INTOnews trends in April INTOcongress15 was also ‘trending’ during congress – featuring in the top 10 most popular twitter accounts in Ireland over the three days.

The top tweet at Congress related to class size with 3,588 impressions.

10 THINGS you should know Remember to sign up for your FREE Wellness seminar Next Dates 29 April

Sligo

Radisson Blu

30 April

Letterkenny

Mount Errigal

27 May

Cavan

Hotel Kilmore

28 May

Athlone

Radisson Blu

Register for your local seminar today at Wellness365.ie and use the registration code: Wellness365

InTouch April/May 2015

1

The deadline for Lifetime Community Rating for health insurance is 1 May. Page 22

2 3 4 5

Check out INTO face-to-face and online summer courses. Page 23.

INTO seminars for principals in Cavan and Tullamore. Page 31 New INTO District Training Organiser positions. Page 10 Annual CMRF Members’ draw. Be in with a chance to win. Page 14.

6 7 8 9 10

Vacancies for AGS in INTO. Page 21

Where are the largest classes in the country? Find out on page 20

Sign up for your FREE Wellness365 seminar. Page 7 Are you paying the correct amount of income tax? Page 33 Congress reports Pages 39-47

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Keeping InTouch

Stay informed

Letters

Survival of small schools The latest news is on www.into.ie

Get the weekly INTO enewsletter update from INTO. Go to into.newsweaver.ie and click subscribe

Get news on the move at our mobile website m.into.ie

Dear Editor, Many thanks, on behalf of small, minority faith schools throughout Ireland, for encouraging the minister to reduce numbers for retention purposes. I’m glad the plight of our schools was linked to the plight experienced by Gaeltacht schools in remote regions, and I’m glad that linkage with distance between similar schools, was highlighted. The change of

attitude will mark the survival of many little schools until our migrant population returns.

I would also like to extend my thanks to all those in the INTO who have contributed to positive change in relation to minority faith schools.

Heather Smith Fermoy Adair School Co Cork

Assaults on teachers Dear Editor, A heartfelt ‘Thank You’ and ‘Well Done’ to the delegates at Congress who spoke so openly and honestly about assaults on teachers.

For far too long, as a teaching principal in a mainstream school, I have accepted regular assaults involving spitting, headbutting, scratching, kicking and hitting on myself, resource teacher and SNA. The continuum of support demands that

we as teachers must put behaviour management strategies in place and extra support will not be provided until such time as we have proven that we have exhausted all such strategies.

I sincerely hope that all efforts will now be made to ensure that pupils receive the supports they need to ensure our schools are safe places for all.

Breda Fitzgerald Clonmel Branch

Follow INTO on @INTOnews

Tell us what you think …

Have you something to say about an article you have read in InTouch, or is there an issue on which you want to communicate with others?

Email editor@into.ie or write to the Editor, InTouch, INTO, Vere Foster House, 35 Parnell Sq, Dublin 1.

Mark all such communications ‘for publication’ and give a contact telephone number and your INTO membership number for verification.

Long letters may be edited.

Authors of letters published will have their names entered for a draw for a €50 voucher each month. Last month’s winner was Anne McCluskey from Dublin.

InTouch April/May 2015

Facilitating parents at Congress Dear Editor, Thank you so much for the fabulous job done organising the crèche at this year's Annual Congress. My children only attended on the Tuesday as my husband was able to mind them Monday and Wednesday but they had an amazing time that day. The one day spent in St Clare's Special School totally blew them away! They made pottery, did all sorts of arts and crafts, took part in a quiz and the adventure dome was just the best thing ever!

It’s a thankless job you have with all that organising and planning but I will most definitely be sending my kids another year and would highly recommend the facility to any delegate attending.

Sharon Murray Stranorlar Branch

Dear Editor, Just a short note to thank all the INTO staff involved in Congress 2015 for the outstanding effort you made to accommodate delegates with children.

Brid and her team were amazing in the welcome and the brilliant programme they developed for the youngsters. The staff were so kind and friendly so that helped greatly with leaving our children there to attend Congress All the parents I spoke to thought the reserved car parking greatly eased their getting to and from Congress especially with the two sites being apart. Please keep that in mind for future conferences as it works!

I know that sometimes the only feedback you may get will be the people with the gripes but hope this mail works in the other way.

Niall Crofton Birr, Co Offaly 9

I dteagmháil

New INTO District Training Organiser positions The INTO is adopting a new branchbased approach to staff representative and new members’ training at local level.

Branch officers will now organise and deliver training with the support of a District Training Organiser. This new role will involve working with local branch officers across her/his district to: devise a calendar of local training events; collate materials for training events; where necessary, organise clustering arrangements; evaluate all local training events; identify additional local training needs; and draw up an annual district training report to CEC and to district AGMs. The INTO would like to hear from members interested in undertaking this

new role. Key skills and competencies include: a good working knowledge of INTO structures, policies and procedures; excellent intrapersonal and communication skills; proficiency in ICT; the ability to build and maintain positive working relations; and the ability to empower and motivate others.

Further details and application form can be requested from Alison Gilliland (alisong@into.ie).

The final date for receipt of application forms is Friday 22 May at 5 p.m. Interviews, if required, will take place on Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 June.

Introductory training will be provided on Friday 19 June.

Presidential Dinner 2015 District XII INTO invites you to the

INTO Presidential Dinner 2015 to celebrate the election of Emma Dineen as President of the INTO Venue: Inchydoney Lodge and Spa Hotel, Clonakilty, Co Cork, Date: Saturday, 10 October 2015

INTO honorary membership and retirement gifts Honorary membership of the INTO may be conferred by branches under Rule 76D which provides that teachers who have been members of a branch may be elected as honorary members after retirement with the right to attend and speak at the branch subsequently. The current rate charged to branches for honorary membership is 48 per member per year. A decision was taken by the CEC to commission a special gift to mark an award of honorary membership. There are now honorary membership certificates and engraved vases available from Head Office. The vase engraved ‘INTO Honorary Member’ costs 70, price includes delivery.

Retirement gifts and certificates There is a vase available engraved ‘INTO’ (costs 70), engraved Cross pens (40),

Ticket information from Kathleen Lowney (Secretary, Organising Committee) Mobile: 087 6893849 Email: intodistrict12@into.ie

School year planner

brooches (31) and tie pins (24) available for sale as retirement emblems. To order a retirement gift, please email Linda Johnston (ljohnston@into.ie) or Elaine Daly (edaly@into.ie), certificates are free and can be ordered from the Membership Section (cjohnson@into.ie).

The INTO school year wallplanner is being distributed with this InTouch. A copy is included for every member plus one for your staffroom A downloadable pdf of the planner is also available on the INTO website in the School Year section.

INTO Member’s Diary The INTO diary for 2014/15 will post to schools in June.

New members will receive their diary with their new member’s pack once their application has been processed.

10

InTouch April/May 2015

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INTO News The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation … who’s who, what’s new, and what’s happening

Emma Dineen – President 2015-2016 The new president of the INTO is Emma Dineen, principal of Cloghroe NS in Inniscarra, Co Cork.

Emma attended primary school in Dripsey NS and completed her secondary education in St Aloysius Secondary School in Cork city. She then attended University College Cork, where she studied Irish and history, followed by a postgraduate course in St Patrick’s College, Dublin, graduating as a primary teacher in 1978.

Emma began her teaching career in the early 1980s, doing substitute work in her native county. In 1980 she was appointed to St Senan’s, Cloghroe, where she has taught every class level including learning support and resource, spending many years teaching sixth class.

Emma was actively involved in extra-curricular activities in her school and parish, coaching camogie, hurling and football, as well as helping to produce musicals and prepare quiz teams.

Appointed principal of this 30 teacher school in 2011, she is an avid advocate of allowing principals to lead teaching and learning in their schools and not be overburdened by administration.

Emma has always had a very keen interest in educational matters and has completed a Masters in Education in UCC. When the revised curriculum came on stream in the 1990s Emma was on the NCCA committee for PE. Subsequent to

this, the PCSP was established and Emma was seconded from her school to help teachers to deliver the English and Art Curriculum. She is currently a member of the Early Childhood and Primary Board of the NCCA. Emma has been actively involved in the INTO since the 1980s, initially at branch level in Coachford Branch, where she was staff representative for her school and later chairperson of the branch. After her first Congress in Ennis she became hooked on trade union matters and rarely missed a congress since.

From 2000 to 2005, she was the District 12 representative on the INTO Education Committee. She has represented Cork city and county, south of the River Lee and west to the Beara peninsula, on the CEC since 2006.

Hailing from a county that has small rural schools and large urban schools in equal measure as well as many special education schools and classes, Emma believes that teachers in all settings should be recognised for the professional and personal contribution they make, not only to their schools, to their students but also to their communities.

The increasing workload of the primary principal, both teaching and administrative, is of great concern to Emma and an issue she believes must be prioritised by the Department.

Emma’s partner is Con and two of her three children are working as primary teachers.

Rosena Jordan – Vice President 2015-2016 The newly elected vice-president of the INTO is Rosena Jordan, a Mayo native now living in Kingscourt, Co Cavan.

Rosena went to St Angela’s NS in Castlebar before moving to Colaiste Muire, Tourmakeady, Co Mayo, for her secondary education. Following her Leaving Certificate she trained as a primary teacher and, in 1982, graduated with a B.Ed degree from Carysfort College in Blackrock, Co Dublin.

In January 1983, Rosena got her first permanent teaching post in Carrickleck NS, Kingscourt, Co Meath, a two teacher school, where she taught the junior classes. In 2004 she joined the staff of St Mary’s NS in Virginia where she taught fourth class. At present she works as a resource teacher there.

Rosena was chairperson of East Cavan Branch of the INTO for ten years before becoming chairperson of District 5, covering the counties of Cavan, Louth and Monaghan.

She later represented the district on the INTO’s Education Committee.

InTouch April/May 2015

In 2008, she was elected to the Central Executive Committee to represent the 14 branches of the union in Cavan, Louth and Monaghan. In this role she has brought the issues affecting INTO members to school management and the Department of Education and Skills. She represented the INTO on the Early Childhood and Primary Language Committee of the NCCA and currently represents the INTO on the Health and Safety Committee of Congress.

Rosena is an active member of the GAA and has been club secretary for both Kingscourt Stars GAA club and Kingscourt Stars Ladies. She was assistant secretary with Cavan Minor Board and served as Oifigeach na Gaeilge for five years with Cavan County Board. She subsequently became Ulster Scor secretary.

Rosena has a keen interest in drama and first tread the boards with Sillan Players for their Millenium production of Son of Man. She enjoys reading, cycling, swimming and skiing.

13

Nuacht CMÉ

INTO Annual Members’ Draw Fantastic prizes for a fantastic cause.

1st prize = Toyota Auris 2nd prize = 4,000 3rd and 4th prize = 2,000 5th and 6th prize = 1,500 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th prizes = 1,000 5 x 100 prizes for staff representatives

a much needed Esaote Vascular Access Ultra Sound Machine The Esoate portable ultrasound is a high performance arm-held ultrasound scanner which can measure and adapt in real-time

Tickets are currently being sent to INTO staff representatives and cost 10 each.

This year, there are an additional five prizes of 100 for staff representatives in schools where there is member participation in the draw. Staff representatives tickets are printed in pink.

All monies and ticket counterfoils should be returned to Head Office by Thursday, 4 June 2015.

This draw will take place on Friday, 5 June 2015 and is open to INTO members only.

to a patient’s individual acoustic properties thus providing more confident and accurate diagnoses, excellent image quality and enhanced workflow.

As a result the more subtle diagnoses become clearer. Anatomical detail becomes more apparent and the medical teams can make a diagnoses rapidly and with more confidence, even in the most technically difficult cases.

If you have any queries regarding this draw or you require additional tickets, please contact Georgina Glackin at gglackin@into.ie or (01) 8047745.

The INTO thanks all members for supporting The Children’s Medical and Research Foundation, your generosity is very much appreciated.

Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital treats approximately 100,000 children from all over Ireland every year. In order to provide these children with the best possible care the hospital need to constantly update the medical equipment staff have to hand. The proceeds from the 2015 draw will go towards purchasing

Please support INTO’s charity partner – The Children’s Medical & Research Foundation at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin

India with Global Schoolroom

Membership Plus Card

This summer 13 INTO members travel to North East India with the Global Schoolroom 2015 Programme to work as a volunteer tutors as part of a three-year teacher training programme for Indian teachers accredited by UCD and recognised by Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati, India.

This year, every applicant was entered into a draw to win new sports kit for their school sponsored by Cornmarket Financial Services. It was won by 2015 volunteer and INTO member Marian Henry and her school, Divine Mercy Balgaddy JNS, Lucan, Co Dublin. Marian said she could think of no better way to spend her summer making a difference than by working as a teacher trainer.

Marian Henry receiving her prize of a sports kit for her school from Dr Garret Campbell, CEO, Global Schoolroom

Membership Plus is the benefits programme for INTO members. To view the full range of offers, see new offers as they are added throughout the year, enter competitions and much more, ensure you activate your Membership Plus card as soon as you receive it.

You can register your card by going to www.membershipplus.ie/ teachers. If you have previously registered, simply login and you will be prompted to enter your new card number.

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If you have not received your 2014-2016 INTO Membership Plus Card, please email info@into.ie.

InTouch April/May 2015

INTO News

New CEC Representatives District 5 – Catherine Flanagan

District 7 – Carmel Browne

Catherine Flanagan is principal of Scoil Éanna, Ballybay, Co Monaghan. This school was formed following the amalgamation in 2003 of Scoil Phádraig boys’ school and Scoil Bhríde girls’ school where Catherine was teaching principal. She also taught in St Louis Girls’ NS, Monaghan, Scoil Phádraig, Corduff, Lisnagrieve NS and Edenmore NS gaining experience in various combinations of multi-grade classrooms.

Catherine was seconded to the School Development Planning Support service in 2006 and continued to work with the support services until 2014.

Catherine has always been an active member of the INTO and has been a member of four branches in Monaghan – Craobh Muineacháin, Castleblayney, Carrickmacross and Ballybay.

She has held the positions of leas-chathaoirleach, cathaoirleach and branch secretary. She is also a member of the District 5 Standing Committee and most recently served as Principals’ and Deputy Principals’ Committee representative for District 5. Catherine looks forward to representing the views of INTO members from counties Cavan, Louth and Monaghan.

Carmel has been a member of the INTO since she started her teaching career in 1980, She has worked at branch and district level and in recent years has been District 7 representative on the Equality Committee (chairperson since 2014).

Carmel has worked with all age groups from infants to sixth and as a learning support and resource teacher. She also taught in North London for five years. She successfully completed her Masters in Education in 2011.

As incoming CEC representative for District 7 Carmel believes now is the time for all INTO members to show solidarity, to work together to protect and improve our pay and conditions. She thinks it is essential to remember that the INTO is a grassroots organisation. “Individual members have the most powerful voice when it comes to bringing about change,” she said. “The power and impact of lobbying local politicians cannot be underestimated – especially with a general election looming. Together we can ensure that the teaching profession gets the credit and appropriate reward that it deserves.”

Carmel has no doubt that equality issues are at the core of priorities for the INTO at present and she looks forward to working with members to bring about change for the better.

District 13 – Anne Horan

District 15 – Shane Loftus

Living in West Limerick, Anne’s teaching experience spans all the possible permutations of the small school. From a one teacher school in Dunmanus, Schull she moved to four teacher St Fergus NS in Glin. After 16 years in Glin, Anne became principal in Carrickerry NS, a three teacher school which due to declining population is now a two teacher school.

Shane Loftus is a sixth class teacher in Our Lady Immaculate SNS, Darndale, Dublin 17.

Originally from Newport Co Mayo, Shane has been working in Darndale since he graduated from St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. He holds a special duties post and has worked as a mainstream teacher and in special education.

Shane currently serves as the teachers’ representative on the school’s board of management. He has completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs and holds a Masters in Disadvantaged Education from NUI Maynooth.

Shane’s initial INTO involvement was as a staff representative in his own school. He progressed onto branch committee with Dublin North West and then to district committee with District XV. Having served as branch auditor he later served as treasurer for District XV. Shane has served on a number of sub-committees on branch and district including committees responsible for subdividing the district and updating district by-laws.

Shane also served as president of Club na Muinteoirí from 2012-2014.

A period of six years subbing and temporary work in the mid-eighties to early nineties provided an understanding of the conditions which are now the lot of many NQTs unable to secure permanent work.

Anne is in the final stages of her EdD in St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, where her doctoral thesis is focusing on the experiences of immigrant parents.

She has been a member of the INTO Benefit Funds Committee for the past three years, a role she greatly enjoyed. She is now looking forward to serving the members of District 13 with the same diligence shown by her predecessors.

InTouch April/May 2015

15

Nuacht CMÉ

In a post-social partnership era, what’s next?

Traditional structures and methods served Ireland well before the economic crisis and through it, but can Ireland and its global partners exit the crisis and go back to this framework?

Speaking in Dublin recently, Guy Ryder, Director General of the International Labour Organisation, probed these questions, and outlined three current global labour challenges which are directly related: jobs and unemployment; how those jobs are organised; and, inequality.

Traditional labour market institutions are designed to protect employees in stable employment relationships, but with those types of relationships disappearing, how can we respond? How can society continue to provide labour and social protections to workers in such a climate?

In asking these questions, Mr Ryder presented us with a choice: either we give up on protections – “in the name of competitiveness … affordability or reliance on individual responsibility”, or, we find ways to provide protections.

Mr Ryder stated that there is a world employment crisis and young people have been the victims, with almost a quarter out of work. He noted that numbers of job seekers in Ireland and the EU in long-term unemployment are still rising. The consequences of this for the unemployed and for labour markets are erosion of skills and the waste of “productive potential”. If governments are genuinely interested in “full, freely-chosen and productive employment”, they have to commit to and implement the ILO’s Employment Policy Convention of the 1960s, one which is still very much a relevant guide for governments.

Mr Ryder also noted that the way work is

Guy Ryder, Director General of ILO pictured with INTO official Elizabeth Ann Kirwan

organised today is changing. This change is “at a rate that… outpaces our capacity for policy adaptation”. More people than ever worldwide are employed on a temporary basis; in Europe 35% of those who go to work are not employees nor do they work full time; in the UK alone, 1.8 million people are on zero-hour contracts.

Mr Ryder observed that inequality, in a number of forms, has been on the rise since before the world economic crisis, including the global gender pay gap, the rising inequality of opportunity and social mobility and perceptions of basic fairness around austerity measures. He remarked that public perceptions of inequity have given anti-establishment politics a greater platform, not seen since the post-Depression/ pre-war era.

Mr Ryder detects that while inequality is significant, there is an appetite for engagement although “the usual labour market instruments… social dialogue, collective bargaining, minimum wages” are currently

out of vogue with some. He pointed to Europe as “the most obvious place” to search for answers; while Europe had not got everything right, neither had the Troika.

To move engagement forward requires three essential understandings: 1) that the recovery of public finances depends crucially on … growth and job creation; 2) that longterm competitiveness will not come from indefinite downward pressure on wages and living standards; and, 3) the values of the European project, i.e. social dialogue, social justice and solidarity are critically important tools for overcoming the crisis.

Essentially, Mr Ryder maintained that success necessitates local and international cooperation, “the solidarity of human society”. He proposed that we move forward on this basis and demand that governments do too.

ILO www.ilo.org IIEA www.iiea.com UN www.un.org G20 www.g20.org

INTO sponsors St Pat’s Senior Team INTO president 2014/15 Sean MacMahon is pictured with members of St Patrick’s College GFC (l to r) Conor Noonan, James Stewart, Ciaran Brady (Capt) and Mark Gallagher. Also pictured are Noel Ward, Georgina Glackin and Joanna O’Byrne from Head Office at the presentation of sponsored jerseys.

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InTouch April/May 2015

INTO News

Billy Sheehan appointed general secretary of the RTAI Billy Sheehan has been announced as the new general secretary of the Retired Teachers’ Association of Ireland. He will take up his position later this year.

On behalf of the INTO, Sheila Nunan, General Secretary, paid a tribute to Billy at Congress for his work on behalf of members.

Billy was appointed as an official to INTO Head Office in 1991. His original role saw him part of the team working on members queries and he also had responsibility for INTO publications.

He previously taught in Swords for 12 years and was drawn early in his teaching career to the INTO. He was active in his local branch and cut his INTO teeth on many campaigns led by the then CEC representative and subsequent general secretary Joe O’Toole and former CEC representative Marjorie Murphy.

In Head Office he produced the INTO Member’s Handbook and embarked on a programme of staff representative training to ensure its contents were understood.

“Billy Sheehan is woven into the fabric of the INTO because of his unwavering and steadfast belief in securing best outcomes for INTO members,” said Ms Nunan. “He played a key role in shaping the structures of the office in driving “a results’ driven agenda”.

His commitment, dedication and drive saw his appointment to the key leadership

New INTO interns appointed for 2015/16 Maeve McCafferty

role of assistant general secretary in the Conditions of Employment Department where he set about building a structure to develop and deliver for members.

“His extraordinary competence and care in dealing with fragile and vulnerable members who are experiencing ill-health is enormously appreciated and respected,” the general secretary told delegates. “He has touched the lives of many members and their families and has been a bearer of hope in assisting them in navigating very difficult life paths. He has worked tirelessly to bring a positive conclusion to many cases.”

“In assessing his lasting contribution to the INTO, the craft of stone building comes to mind. His legacy is carved on the various building blocks of the INTO.”

New officials appointed in Head Office Elizabeth Ann Kirwan Elizabeth-Ann Kirwan from Dublin has been appointed as an official in INTO Head Office. She taught in Scoil Naomh Lúcáis, Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15, before taking up a position as an INTO intern last September, primarily working in the Legal, Industrial Relations and Leadership section.

Elizabeth-Ann is a graduate of UCD and St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra.

Maeve is from Termon, Co Donegal. She studied Arts at NUI Galway where she received a BA in Irish and Geography. Following this she completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Business studies, also at NUI Galway. She then worked for six months in a two teacher Gaeltacht school in Glasán, Co Donegal, before pursuing a H Dip in Primary Education at St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, graduating in 2004.

Since graduating, Maeve has worked as an assistant principal in a two teacher school in Kilmurry, Co Roscommon, and has been an active member of the INTO both locally and nationally.

Joe O’Reilly Joe O’Reilly, a native of Shercock, Co Cavan, graduated from St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, in 2007 with a BA (Hons) in History and Irish before pursuing a PGCE from the University of Wales. He has been living and teaching in Dublin since 2008.

Joe began his teaching career in Holy Trinity SNS, Donaghmede and has remained there since.

During his time in Donaghmede Joe has become involved with a wide range of extra curricular activities; coaching football and quiz teams as well as working as a Rainbows facilitator within the school.

Joe is the current INTO representative for his school, a position he has held since he became involved with the union in 2009.

Aileen Lynch Aileen Lynch has been appointed as an official in INTO Head Office. A native of Ennis, Aileen was teaching in Scoil Mhuire agus Chormaic in Kilcormac since graduating from Mary Immaculate College in Limerick.

She has been working as an intern in INTO Head Office since last September.

InTouch April/May 2015

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Exploring Nature...

School tours are a speciality when it comes to Exploring at The Irish National Stud and Gardens.

4 in 1 School Outing for classes 3rd to 6th ( 2 classes per day) • Horse Museum • National Stud • Japanese Gardens • St. Fiachra’s Garden Interactive SESE Discovery trail with Discover Primary Science & Maths Activities Designed by Paddy Madden • Classification is an important skill in Science. Use the magnetic pieces to classify vertebrates and Invertebrates.

Also identify parts of a horse. Concept was designed by Paddy Madden (See image below – located on the wall near the Horse Museum) ALSO available Worksheets for Stud tour & nature trail through St. Fiachra’s Garden to cover: • Living things • Energy & Forces • Natural Environments • Suitable for children 8 - 12 years

Located 30 miles south of Dublin in Kildare From Belfast take the A1 continuing onto the M1.

Merge onto M50 travelling south and take exit 9 onto the M7. Exit 13 onto the R 415.

The Irish National Stud is a ‘Membership plus’ member.

Tully, Kildare. Tel: +353 (0)45 521617 Email: reservations@instourism.net www.irishnationalstud.ie

INTO News

Increased teacher workload and stress highlighted by interim report Workload, Stress and Resilience of Primary Teachers: Report of a Survey of INTO Members The interim report of a survey on teacher workload, stress and resilience authored

by Professor Mark Morgan of DCU, on behalf of the INTO, has concluded that primary teaching has become much more “stressful, demanding, challenging and hectic”. Ninety per cent of teachers said this was their view of their jobs.

Nevertheless, at the same time one in two teachers describe their work as satisfying and as worthwhile as it was before.

Over 300 primary teachers (332) responded to the survey and the sample was broadly representative of the membership of the INTO in terms of gender, promotion, experience and geographical location.

When teachers were asked to identify factors that made teaching more challenging in the last five years or since beginning teaching two main issues arose in the findings. These were greater demands for documentation, school policies and improvement plans and demands on schools to solve wider societal problems.

Meeting the individual needs of pupils also made teaching more challenging as did the number of children with behaviour difficulties. Less job mobility and reporting the results of standardised tests were not regarded as nearly as difficult.

Teachers were asked about changes in the last five years which affect the ‘climate of teaching’ and they pointed to additional administration and documentation. In the case of each of these, over 95% said that these had become an issue in the last five years while a high percentage (over 86%) said schools had become more bureaucratic.

These and other factors are having an impact on the morale of teachers. General criticisms of the public service were perceived by more than 85% as having a negative effect on teachers’ morale. This was followed by demands on schools to solve societal problems (more than 77% thought that this had a negative impact on morale).

Reports of research studies involving international comparisons were not regarded by the majority of teachers as having a

InTouch April/May 2015

The results strongly indicate that teachers’ work has indeed become more stressful in the last five years negative effect on morale. This is despite the fact that at least one study involving such comparisons has been used as an example of how ‘standards were in decline’.

Indeed media reports of research in general were not regarded by the majority of the respondents as negative. Some reports in the media enhanced morale.

Just over half of the teachers took the view that reports of high standards of entry to teaching had a positive impact on morale and roughly the same percentage regarded reports of achievement in arts and sports as increasing such good feelings.

When asked about changes that would increase job satisfaction and make teaching less stressful the findings reinforce earlier responses. For example, 91% took the view that less documentation would help greatly.

Tackling curriculum overload was seen by 93% as helpful as was the re-instatement of promotion opportunities.

The report also points strongly to the need to support the wellbeing of teachers.

Over 93% of respondents took the view that this would help to make teaching more rewarding. At school level, factors that emerged as ways of making the work of a teacher more satisfying and less stressful included better support services for children with special needs (nearly 99%). There was also strong support for resources necessary for the efficient running of a school such as greater administrative support.

It is interesting to note what was not given major priority. In particular and in line with earlier findings in the questionnaire, less than 40% thought that less emphasis on literacy and numeracy would help.

The results strongly indicate that teachers’ work has indeed become more stressful in the last five years. On the other hand, some changes, especially policy changes that have come about, are not regarded as causing the same level of stress and changing them would not help greatly to enhance job satisfaction. Examples of the latter include the literacy and numeracy policy and the use of standardised tests in schools.

It is striking that as a result of changes, teachers perceived themselves to be less in control and that their professional expertise was being downplayed. Teachers are very highly motivated and want to be involved in planning at school level.

It could be said that the main factor involved in teachers’ workload stress is a concern about greater accountability of teachers being established through more detailed documentation. Similarly in looking at problems in society, it is not obvious that schools should have the primary responsibility but it seems that there is no other institution that might take responsibility for such complex matters.

Further analysis of the survey findings will be undertaken in the coming months and will be reported in detail in InTouch.

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Picture: Eamon Ward, Irish Independent

Nuacht CMÉ

Class size in Ireland New numbers for 2014-2015 tell the same old story 532,933 primary school pupils go to school in the most overcrowded classes in the Eurozone.

76 per cent of children are in classes above the EU average.

One in four is in a supersized class of more than 30 children.

Only ten per cent of Irish children are in classes that other EU countries call normal.

In supersized classes of 30 pupils: The child who is weak struggles.

The bright pupil is not challenged.

The shy child is not noticed.

Classroom management trumps teaching and learning.

Innovative teaching methods are not possible.

There’s no time for individual attention.

Primary school children are being let down, not through lack of effort on any teacher’s part, but by a lack of time and resources.

In overcrowded classrooms, two valuable resources are wasted. We don’t make the most of children at a stage where they are primed for learning. We suffocate the potential of our teachers.

We must give primary children a proper chance in smaller classes by standing up for primary education.

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Local Numbers in classes of: Authority under 20 20-29 30 + Carlow 343 4713 2382 Cavan 891 6940 1611 Clare 1805 8434 3458 Cork City 2404 8853 2210 Cork County 3475 30371 12772 Donegal 2758 12479 3493 Dublin City 7270 28497 8130 Dún Laoghaire Rathdown 981 11820 5483 Dublin Fingal 1415 25696 8403 South Dublin CC 3081 23138 7670 Galway City 1111 4653 1428 Galway County 2999 14112 4780 Kerry 1981 10550 3255 Kildare 914 20350 7457 Kilkenny 1015 6956 2758 Laois 822 6982 2872 Leitrim 699 2159 766 Limerick City 1061 4311 1393 Limerick County 1387 9442 4180 Longford 699 3558 974 Louth 1229 10998 4283 Mayo 2910 8828 2593 Meath 998 16683 8088 Monaghan 840 4870 1691 Offaly 1060 6643 1924 Roscommon 1512 4560 1060 Sligo 834 4832 1537 Tipperary North 1039 5454 1809 Tipperary South 1410 6707 1851 Waterford City 390 4643 1083 Waterford County 550 5144 2205 Westmeath 1104 7357 2391 Wexford 1324 12133 4700 Wicklow 1026 11138 4902

Total Pupils 7438 9442 13697 13467 46618 18730 43897 18284 35514 33889 7192 21891 15786 28721 10729 10676 3624 6765 15009 5231 16510 14331 25769 7401 9627 7132 7203 8302 9968 6116 7899 10852 18157 17066

Total

532933

53337

354004 125592

Percentage in classes of: under 20 20 - 29 30 + 4.6 63.4 32.0 9.4 73.5 17.1 13.2 61.6 25.2 17.9 65.7 16.4 7.5 65.1 27.4 14.7 66.6 18.6 16.6 64.9 18.5 5.4 64.6 30.0 4.0 72.4 23.7 9.1 68.3 22.6 15.4 64.7 19.9 13.7 64.5 21.8 12.5 66.8 20.6 3.2 70.9 26.0 9.5 64.8 25.7 7.7 65.4 26.9 19.3 59.6 21.1 15.7 63.7 20.6 9.2 62.9 27.8 13.4 68.0 18.6 7.4 66.6 25.9 20.3 61.6 18.1 3.9 64.7 31.4 11.3 65.8 22.8 11.0 69.0 20.0 21.2 63.9 14.9 11.6 67.1 21.3 12.5 65.7 21.8 14.1 67.3 18.6 6.4 75.9 17.7 7.0 65.1 27.9 10.2 67.8 22.0 7.3 66.8 25.9 6.0 65.3 28.7 10

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InTouch April/May 2015

Vacancies in INTO Head Office Assistant General Secretary Applications are invited for this challenging senior management position.

The successful candidate will play a strategic role in progressing the objectives and policies of the INTO across all levels of the Organisation.

Key requirements and competencies The successful candidate will have: A strong academic background and a minimum of 10 years of appropriate professional experience at a senior level.

A thorough understanding of INTO’s role and objectives and the external environment in which it operates.

Significant experience and a proven track record in negotiating and handling complex industrial relations issues.

Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaborative skills and an ability to build, maintain and influence a wide range of stakeholders.

Strong analytical, reporting and project management skills.

Proven success in generating research and policy development.

Demonstrative leadership experience and the ability to manage and develop a team of people to deliver quality services.

A results driven approach with evidence of being innovative, energetic and flexible in advancing strategy.

A willingness to continuously build his/her knowledge and skills base.

A detailed job description is available on request by email from rwarren@into.ie.

Letter of application (max 2 pages) and curriculum vitae, together with the names and contact details of two referees, should be submitted by email only by 5 p.m. on Thursday 7 May 2015 to: gen.sec@into.ie

The INTO is the largest teachers’ union in Ireland representing 40,000 members in the Republic and Northern Ireland

Director of Education and Research at Assistant General Secretary level Applications are invited for this challenging senior management position.

The successful candidate will play a strategic role in progressing the objectives and policies of the INTO across all levels of the Organisation.

Key requirements and competencies The successful candidate will have: A strong academic background (at least Masters level) and and a minimum of 10 years of appropriate professional experience at a senior level.

A thorough understanding of INTO’s role and objectives and the external environment in which it operates.

An in-depth understanding and analysis of the education system, including the continuum of primary teacher education, teaching and learning, curriculum and assessment and continuous professional development.

Excellent communication, interpersonal and collaborative skills and an ability to build, maintain and influence a wide range of stakeholders.

Proven success in generating education research and developing education policy.

Strong analytical, reporting and project management skills.

A results driven approach with evidence of being innovative, energetic and flexible in advancing strategy.

A willingness to continuously build his/her knowledge and skills base.

A detailed job description is available on request from rwarren@into.ie.

Letter of application (max 2 pages) and curriculum vitae, together with the names and contact details of two referees, should be submitted by email only by 5 p.m. on Thursday 7 May 2015 to: gen.sec@into.ie

The INTO is the largest teachers’ union in Ireland representing 40,000 members in the Republic and Northern Ireland

InTouch April/May 2015

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Nuacht CMÉ

Jamie Wall appeal

HEALTH INSURANCE Lifetime Community Rating 1 May 2015 is the deadline for the introduction of the Health insurance Lifetime Community Rating (LCR) initiative by Government. The arrival of this new legislation will mean that the price of health insurance premiums will be increased for members who buy health insurance over the age of 34 at a rate of 2 per year. For example, if you take out a private health insurance policy for the first time at age 40 you will pay 12 (2 x 6) more than someone who took out their cover before the Lifetime Community Rating deadline. At age 45, it would be

22, up to a maximum of 70 at age 69.

In order to alert members to this situation and thereby minimise the cost of health insurance for members into the future, the INTO highlighted the introduction of LCR on the INTO website, by enewsletter and in InTouch magazine.

With the deadline fast approaching members can avail of the FREE Health Insurance Comparison Service for INTO members provided by Cornmarket by calling (01)4086217 or by using the link on the INTO website.

Summer Works Scheme welcomed The INTO welcomed the announcement on 2 April by the Minister for Education and Skills that 446 primary schools would receive funding for summer works projects this year (involving expenditure of 24 million).

In November 2013, schools were invited to submit applications for summer works.

In 2014, 72m in funding was approved for primary and post primary schools to complete works in categories 1 - 6 (gas, electrical, mechanical works, projects to facilitate inclusion and access, toilets and roof works. The funding now being allocated will complete the remaining four categories – window projects, curricular requirement projects, 22

structural improvements and external environment projects.

Schools can access further details and instructions on how to proceed using the Esinet portal.

An information article on the Summer Works Scheme was published on page 27 of the December 2013 issue of InTouch (available in the Publications section of the INTO website). Also, the April 2014 issue of InTouch contained a supplement with useful information for schools commencing on devolved schemes such as the SWS. This information is also available on the INTO website at www.into.ie/ROI/InfoforTeachers/SchoolAccommodation/ and on www.education.ie

Allow me to preface this message by first acknowledging the incredible support I have received from everyone at Mary I, the INTO, and the teaching community as a whole. Thank you all.

I graduated from Mary I last October, on what was always going to be a very emotionally charged day. I think my leaving would have been a tough day irrespective of my health, for after three great years I had come to view the college community as a second parish, and I hold the GAA club as closely as my home club.

I had hoped to begin work this September, potentially in a Gaelscoil in Co Clare.

Close to Limerick, which had become a second home, an opportunity to teach through our native tongue, something I feel passionately about, and close to family in Cratloe. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry, and I soon found myself in Beaumont Hospital, many miles from all of that.

Since then, I have began my rehabilitation. It has been both physically demanding, and mentally challenging, but it is now coming to an end and I am to return home to my native West Cork, where I hope to continue my rehabilitation, while moving on with my life.

I firmly believe that the day is fast approaching where I, and thousands of other wheelchair users, will have renewed hope that there will be the ultimate happy ending. That hope, and striving to that end, however need not be mutually exclusive from living in the meantime.

That is my goal and thank you all for your continued support in working towards it.

Ní bhíonn in aon rud ach seal, agus ní neart go cur le chéile.

Le gach dea guí, Jamie Wall (Details of the Jamie Wall Appeal were published in the March InTouch)

InTouch April/May 2015

INTO News INTO LEARNING

New courses to join the summer favourites Registration for all summer courses opened on Wednesday, 8 April, the closing day of Congress 2015.

A poster which outlines all courses and prices is being sent to each school with this InTouch and information is available online at www.intolearning.ie. We are delighted to host courses with our regular collaborators – Outside the Box, Learning Resources; Marino Institution of Education; CEOL Ireland and we welcome a new col-

laborator this year – Mindfulness Matters.

Once again we thank PDST for their support in the provision of two excellent ICT courses. There will be three new face-to-face courses provided and as these have limited places available, early registration is advised. The annual, very popular Comhra, Comhluadar agus Craic! will run in Kerry.

Online summer courses

Face to Face courses

Among the courses available are:

This course explores the concept of learning through play and will examine how best to implement a play-based curriculum.

Planning and Implementing a Play Based Curriculum

Moving from Mainstream to LSRT has been available as term-time online course for a number of years. This year, it is presented as one of the new online summer courses and will have strategies and tips for teachers moving into the area of special needs education.

Learning Through Play is a new online course which presents and discusses the value of play in the education of four to six year old pupils.

Maths Problem Solving: A process, not a product focuses on a process led approach to maths problem solving across all class levels. It includes an exploration of maths language and maths thinking and looks at the school environment and the curriculum with maths eyes. It presents a series of problem solving strategies, a tool kit and a framework to support maths problem solving. The course is enhanced by video footage of various approaches in action in the classroom.

Multiclass Teaching: Management, Literacy and Numeracy Issues explores the concept of multiclass teaching from a classroom management, literacy and numeracy perspective. It appraises strategies for classroom and behaviour management and explores learning styles and multiple intelligences.

It also suggests a variety of approaches and methodologies, including peer tutoring, to support the areas of literacy and numeracy.

Promoting and Supporting Positive Behaviour in the Primary School explores the pupil behaviour/learning dynamic and the influence of pupil/teacher interaction on behaviour. It appraises how positive learning behaviour can be supported through a whole school approach.

Participants will explore theory and reality of play as a medium for learning in the early years. The topic of oral language development will be examined and planning for play based lessons and integration of play will form part of the course content.

Venues

St Colmcille’s JNS, Knocklyon, Dublin 16.

Comhra, Ceol agus Craic!

Cursa nua sa Mhodscoil Luimneach. Beidh an chursa seo oiriunach do gach múinteoir.

Se aidhm an chúrsa ná go dtabharfaí seans do daoine codannaden churaclam a chioradh agus taithneamh a bhaint astu.

Mhodhscoil, Ascaill Uí Chonaill, I Luimneach.

Tionólfar an cursa seo sa Mhodhscoil, Ascaill Uí Chonaill, I Luimneach.

Write to Read Our Lady’s School, Barntown, Co Wexford is the venue for the Write to Read course – based on the balanced literacy framework approach.

Dr Eithne Kennedy, creator of this approach will facilitate the course.

All three courses run 1 – 7 July

Our Lady’s School, Barntown, Co Wexford.

See page 31 for news of school leadership courses: Key Skills in Good School Leadership.

Newly Appointed Principals.

Supporting School Leaders.

All 30 courses are designed and facilitated by primary teachers for teachers and approved by the DES for EPV days.

Courses will be available from 1 July.

New branch officer training InTouch April/May 2015

New branch secretaries and cathaoirligh will be invited to an introductory training day in the INTO Learning Centre on Friday, 22 May. This training day will explore the

roles of branch secretary and branch chairperson; building and maintaining relationships at local and district level, and INTO Communications.

Registration, which must be

done online, is now available at www.intolearning.ie * Please note that this training is only available for new branch officers only.

23

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INTO News

In the media In print Jailing of teacher union leader in Bahrain Sir, We wish to highlight the continued imprisonment of Mahdi Abu Dheeb, president, Bahrain Teachers’ Association (BTA). Mahdi Abu Dheeb was unjustly detained for exercising the right to freedom of assembly and demanding reforms in the Bahraini educational system... Sean McMahon, President, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

The Irish Times, Letters, 18 March 2015 Teachers' union says Church proposals for religious inclusion “disappointing” The primary teachers' union has added its voice to criticism of new Catholic Church guidelines on how their schools can make children of other faiths feel included. The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) said it was “disappointed that the document does not address many of the key concerns”. The guidelines are a response to the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism report on catering for the growing demand for greater choice in primary education. A major part of the forum's work was recommendations for the handover of some Catholic-run schools to other patron bodies, but it also made a series of proposals about dealing with religious diversity in all schools. Among INTO criticisms are a failure to recommend religious education at the start or end of the school day so withdrawal of pupils whose parents do not wish them to participate could be more easily accommodated…

Irish Independent, 13 March 2015

Special education cuts ‘devastating primary schools’ The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation has said the cuts to special education have devastated primary schools. …President of the INTO Sean McMahon said cuts to special education need to be immediately reversed. “As an immediate measure, we’re calling on the Department to reverse the 15 cut and put in more teachers and support mechanisms into our schools so these children are appropriately supported.”

Irish Examiner, 7 March 2015 JobBridge teacher interns offer an object lesson in blockhead politics … There is nothing pragmatic about continuing to spend vast sums every year on the training of teachers who are then forced to ply their trade in overseas schools. Teaching graduates have been leaving the country in droves. Most have emigrated to England, where the education system is experiencing a critical shortage of primary and secondary teachers.

However, recruitment agencies from as far afield as Abu Dubai and New Zealand have also been snapping up freshly-minted Irish teachers. In the long run, the advent of the JobBridge teacher will be as damaging to politics as it is to education... By consigning expensively-trained young teachers to the bargain bin, this government provides an object lesson in its own political incompetence.

Irish Independent, 1 March 2015

“On the airwaves” Catholic schools receive new guidelines on religious teaching Deirdre O’Connor, Irish National Teachers’ Organisation, joins the programme to talk about the new guidelines on religious teaching issued to Catholic schools.

Pat Kenny Show, Newstalk, 13 March 2015 Primary school teachers call for reversal on special education The INTO is holding a conference today in Limerick, focusing on the area of special education.

Organisation president Sean McMahon, says the cutbacks to special education are unfair on the affected children.

Newstalk, 7 March 2015 Mo léan Lucht Léinn Discussion with Alan Titley, Deirbhile Nic Craith and Moira Leydon.

Cormac ag a Cúig, RnaG, 6 March 2015

Full coverage of all INTO media coverage is available on www.into.ie/ROI/NewsEvents/MediaCoverage

Media Co-ordinator Training INTO media co-ordinators attended a training session in INTO Head Office on Saturday, 21 March in preparation for managing local media opportunities for this year’s INTO Congress in Ennis.

John Walsh, former education editor with the Irish Independent and advisor to Ruairí Quinn TD during his term as Minister for Education and Skills, is pictured with INTO media coordinators.

InTouch April/May 2015

25

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INTO News SOLIDARITY

Lámha Suas The infant teacher explained that the class of 60 children had to take turns to write as there was not enough pencils for the everyone After years of volunteering in Uganda, my colleague Deborah Sheeran decided to set up her own charity, Lámha Suas. This charity specifically aims at helping girls to stay in school in rural parts of the country. This year I decided to take the plunge and join her as a volunteer.

Arriving in Kampala was a bit of a culture shock. The roads and buildings were dusty, traffic was crazy and living conditions were tough. We got around by motorbike, a scary experience in itself!

From there we set off to the rural village of Madudu where we would be teaching.

We received an overwhelming welcome The 600 pupils of Madudu CU primary school sang, danced, cheered and celebrated as we arrived. Everywhere you went, people waved and smiled at you.

They were truly grateful for the work that was being done in their community.

I spent my time between Madudu CU and St Andrew’s Secondary School. In Madudu CU I taught English, PE and art.

The harsh realities of teaching in Uganda became evident on our first day. The infant teacher explained that the class of 60 children had to take turns to write as there were not enough pencils for everyone. In St Andrew’s, I worked with the school choir and we staged a short show at the end of the placement. In both schools the children were friendly, enthusiastic and great to work with. Our Ugandan teaching colleagues became our friends.

As well as teaching in the schools, we visited local clinics and charities, and a deaf school. We held workshops with the Ugandan teachers, sharing ideas for teaching different areas of the curriculum.

One of the most touching moments of

A welcome dance at Madudu CU the trip was walking home with the children after school. Some live up to an hour’s walk away, and travel on an empty stomach. The houses are made from mud and are very humble, with one or two rooms to house the large families and had little or no furniture.

Some of Lámha Suas’ achievements in Madudu CU to date include: a new staffroom, toilets, water tanks, and a kitchen which supplies children with a meal each day. They also employ an extra teacher so that 130 infants can be divided into two classes of 65.

Lámha Suas also offers a scholarship programme to a teacher training college for two girls every year. This was aided by the INTO Solidarity Fund this year.

When we visited the girls at college, they were highly appreciative, and gave us artwork they had made as a gift. This now

Kathryn outside Madudu CU primary school hangs proudly in my classroom. It was rewarding to see exactly where the money raised was going. I would like to thank the INTO for supporting this cause.

Though it did present challenges, my time in Uganda was very enjoyable and I have great memories of my time there. I would highly recommend it to anyone considering volunteering abroad.

Find out more about Lámha Suas at www.lamhasuas.ie Kathryn Gibbons teaches in St Brigid’s BNS, Killester, Dublin .

If you wish to apply to the INTO Solidarity Fund please contact Georgina Glackin, INTO, at   or gglackin@into.ie InTouch April/May 2015

27

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INTO Advice INTO advice for members on issues of importance

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

School leadership – a European dimension The INTO is affiliated to the European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), which constitutes the Education International European region.

ETUCE and Education International (EI) are the umbrella trade union organisations for teacher and education trade unions at European level, and worldwide respectively. ETUCE not only represents teachers, but also school leaders through its member organisations including the INTO. ETUCE takes a broad view of school leadership, encompassing not only the head or principal of the learning institution but also other individuals with leadership roles such as deputy principals, subject or department heads, senior teachers and other individuals entrusted with leadership responsibility. ETUCE believes in shared or collaborative lead-

Summer courses on Leadership The very popular online course Key Skills in Good School Leadership will run again as will the blended course for Newly Appointed Principals. The face to face element of the latter will be in Tullamore Court Hotel from 19 – 21 August.

A new course, Supporting School Leaders, includes two online modules and three days of face-to-face coursework, 1 – 3 July. It will be held in the INTO Learning Centre, 38 Parnell Sq, Dublin.

All courses are designed and facilitated by experienced principals and INTO officials and are approved by the DES for EPV days.

InTouch April/May 2015

ership involving teachers and the whole school community. ETUCE believes that through such collaborative leadership, school principals can work with the whole pedagogical community to develop a shared vision for the school, to set the school goals, and to work systematically towards their fulfilment.

To learn more about ETUCE’s work on school leadership please visit their website at link http://bit.ly/1PCu8vg ETUCE is member of the European Policy Network of School Leadership (EPNoSL), which has recently published its toolkit on school leadership. The School Leadership Toolkit for Equity and Learning was designed to provide policy makers, school authorities, schools, researchers and teacher training institutes with the tools to reflect upon, identify challenges and prioritise areas for policy action to

support and enhance school leadership for equity and learning. The toolkit includes toolsets on the following issues: Educating school leaders.

Teacher leadership.

Distributed leadership for equity and learning.

School autonomy.

School accountability.

Promoting collaboration.

Policy response.

Policy assessment.

The toolkit can be found at http://toolkit.schoolleadership.eu/index.php.

It may be of interest to school leaders, particularly those engaged in research or development work in their schools.

Other EPNSoL work includes webinars, online forums, research papers and conferences. Full details can be found on www.schoolleadership.eu

PRINCIPALS’ SEMINARS Principals’ seminars will take place on Wednesday, 13 May 2015 in the Cavan Crystal Hotel, Cavan and on Wednesday, 20 May 2015 in the Tullamore Court Hotel, Tullamore.

These seminars will focus on day-today school leadership including: Principals' responsibilities to pupils and their staff arising from the following legislation: The Education Act. The Education and Welfare Act. The Teaching Council Act. Equality Legislation.

Information for principals with regard to the following changes in teacher terms and conditions: The Ward Report and its implications for the awarding of CIDs. The Teaching Council Amendment Act 2014 (vetting implications).

Critical Illness Protocol (Appendix 3 of Circular 59/2014).

Teaching Council Non-Registration Leave (Circular 52/3013).

Please note that the content of these seminars is different from those held in 2013 and 2014.

The DES has authorised the release of teachers to attend these seminars but unfortunately substitute cover is not provided for such release. These seminars are provided free of charge. However, a fully refundable booking deposit of €40 will be charged with each application and is refundable on attendance.

The seminars will be presented by INTO officials and run from 9.30 a.m. – 3.30 p.m.

Lunch and refreshments will also be provided. To register visit: www.intolearning.ie/principals-seminars2015

31

INTO Advice From college to classroom

Checklist for Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) ations and leave teachers are getting ready to sit examin At this stage of the year, final year student enter the teaching profession the checklist below their familiar college environment. As they d teachers (NQTs). may be useful for them as newly qualifie e commenced in

with probation wer .The sections of the Teaching Council Act 2001 dealing utor y responsibility for establishing

the Council has a stat September 2012. This means that . To register fully, all bation of newly qualified teachers procedures and criteria for the pro for probation and ures a probationary process. Proced primary teachers must complete the Council’s in il deta in probation) are set out Droichead (the new pilot model for bation 2014/2015.

Pro for eria Crit and res n and Procedu document: Procedures for Inductio on of the work of ecti and 35 for criteria used in the insp p an eye on Check out Appendix 1 on pages 34 Kee ols. scho stration purposes in primary be available teachers for probationary and regi will ch whi nt ume 5/2016 procedures doc www.teachingcouncil.ie for the 201 in July.

Long-Term/Termly erinduction.ie for Guidelines on See planning section of www.teach planning for NQTs ng. There are draft guidelines on and Short-Term/Weekly Planni ning for NQTs plan on itions and draft guidelines who are teaching in resource pos also. ion sect g nin plan on settings on the who are teaching in special educati For queries in relation to: ncil number in your email e and include your Teaching Cou Probation: email probation@lec.i il info@teachingcouncil.ie Teaching Council registration: ema l education centre to op programme contact your loca To register for the evening worksh tre on www.ateci.ie cen on details for each educati tact con ck Che . ops ksh wor for register nagement and g and Preparation, Classroom Ma Workshop topics include: Plannin racy, Numeracy, lysing Classroom Evidence, Lite Organisation, Assessment: Ana n and other topics.

Behaviour Management, Inclusio Differentiation, Child Protection, rday throughout Satu a on e Child Protection take plac The workshops on Inclusion and il of up to six ava may ad iche participating in Dro term one. NQTs who are in schools up to six additional his/her mentor or PST, as well as hours of school-based work with Teaching Council’s ter meetings, to fulfil part of the hours by attending Droichead clus tor may also men ned NQTs who have an NIPT trai 20-hour induction requirement. l part of the fulfi to tor men her based work with his/ avail of up to six hours of schooluction requirement.

Teaching Council’s 20-hour ind . A mentor is a school in which you will be working Enquire if there is a mentor in the l to support NQTs. teacher nominated by the principa duction.ie induction email info@teacherin For phone and email support on w.carecallwellbeing.ie ice is available to teachers on ww A free, confidential counselling serv or 1800 411057.

Useful websites: www.education.ie

www.teachingcouncil.ie www.teacherinduction.ie www.into.ie www.ateci.ie

32

InTouch April/May 2015

INTO Advice

Understanding your payslip

Income tax “The hardest thing to understand in the world is the income tax”. Albert Einstein In this, the first in a series of articles on understanding your payslip, we focus on deductions from salary.

Deductions fall into two categories – compulsory and voluntary. Compulsory deductions include income tax, Employee’s Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI), Universal Social Charge (USC), pension and pension related deduction. Voluntary deductions may include VHI, Comhar Linn, Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs), Salary Protection and INTO subscription.

This month we specifically focus on the deduction of income tax. It is recommended that this article is read with a copy of your payslip issued in 2015.

Income tax Teachers are in the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system which means that

income tax is deducted at source from every salary payment. The tax basis at which this income tax is deducted is either O (ordinary) or E (emergency).

To avoid being placed on emergency tax you need to inform Primary Payroll (tel: 090 6483600) should you take up a position for the first time, change your teaching status from permanent or temporary to substitute or if you are employed as a substitute teacher.

Income tax is not applied to a teacher’s gross/total earnings but rather to the taxable gross which is a lower amount.

This taxable gross is the difference between the gross/total earnings and the pre-tax deductions. Some deductions on your salary qualify for tax relief such as Salary Protection and AVCs. This means that income tax is not applied to these amounts resulting in a lower tax liability.

Tax credits In addition to some deductions qualifying for tax relief, and depending on personal circumstances, there are a number of tax credits which, when applied, reduce the amount of tax you have to pay per fortnight. Some tax credits are applied automatically e.g. personal and PAYE tax credit. There are other tax credits which may be applicable to you and these must be claimed directly from Revenue.

The most common tax credits applicable to teachers are listed in the table below. Also, you should check your Tax Credit and Universal Social Charge Certificate for the relevant tax year to ensure that you have been in receipt and are currently in receipt of the tax credits that you are entitled to.

A full list of tax credits are available on www.revenue.ie.

Tax credit list Single person Married person or civil partner* Single person child carer PAYE tax credit Age tax credit Single/widowed/surviving partner Civil partner married or civil relationship Flat rate expenses** Principal teacher Teacher

1,650 3,300 1,650 1,650 245 490 698 608

* For eligibility for this tax credit check with Revenue. ** This flat rate expense includes a 90 tax credit for the Teaching Council registration fee.

Taxation measures There are two income tax rates which are applied to your taxable gross: 20 and a higher rate which was reduced in Budget 2015 from 41 to 40.

Personal income tax rates and tax bands At 20, first Single person 33,800

Married couple (one income)* Married couple (two incomes)** One parent/widowed parent*

42,800 67,600 37,800

At 40 Balance Balance Balance Balance

* Applies to civil partnership/surviving civil partner also. ** 42,800 with an increase of 24,800 maximum.

InTouch April/May 2015

Calculating your tax liability Below is an example from a teacher’s payslip of the tax liability per fortnight.

Total earnings per fortnight Taxable gross (total earnings minus pre-tax deductions)

2,366.31 2,079.94

Stand cut-off point i.e. amount of tax paid at 20 1315.19 @20 = A Tax at 40 (2079.94 - 1315.19 = 764.75 @ 40) = B

263.03

Total gross tax (A+B) Less tax credit Tax liability

568.94 129.96 438.98

305.91

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INTO Advice

Managing your money

Setting your savings goal The seventh in a series of articles from consumerhelp.ie It’s important to put a bit of money away for times when you may need it and setting a savings goal is a great way to help you focus. Our helpline receives calls from consumers in relation to savings accounts. The types of queries we get from consumers include: Information on where best to save: we advise consumers to use our regular savings comparison on www.consumerhelp.ie to see the various accounts available and the interest they could earn. We also suggest that they seek financial advice and refer them to the list of financial advisors on the Central Bank website, www.centralbank.ie How safe their savings are: we tell them about the Deposit Guarantee Scheme and direct them to the information on our site.

What their rights are if they wish to take out money prior to the maturity date of their fixed term deposit account: we advise consumers to check the terms and conditions of their account and to get in contact with the customer care department of their bank.

Advice on what to do with lump sum inheritances: here we advise people to check out the lump sum deposits account comparison tool on our site and also refer them to the full list of financial advisors on the Central Bank site.

Whether you’re clearing ongoing debt, saving a deposit for a house or you’re simply saving for a rainy day, whatever it is that you want to achieve, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission have a number of steps to help you reach your goal.

Work out what you can save Work out how much money you can afford to put away each week or month.

To do this you need to have a budget in place. This means looking at what money you have coming in, for instance your salary or any allowances you receive, and comparing this against the money going out, such as rent/mortgage, transport, electricity etc. Do this across a period of time and include any less frequent payments such as life and car insurance. This can be over the course of an entire year, a month or a week, whichever is easiest for you. Taking a little time to look at how you spend your money and where

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you can possibly make changes will help you work out how much you can afford to put away on a weekly or monthly basis.

Visit www.consumerhelp.ie to complete a comprehensive financial review. There you’ll find information and tools including a budget planner, weekly spending diary and spending calculator to help you see where you might need to cut back on your spending. If you are finding it hard to make savings, there are a number of money saving tips across a wide variety of regular household expenditures including, gas, electricity and groceries on www.consumerhelp.ie.

Depending on what your goal is, you need to work out how much it will cost and how you will put money aside to achieve it. For instance if your goal is to: Clear debt If you have money left over after reviewing your financial situation, think about how you can use it effectively. It’s a good idea to get rid of debt first before you start saving.

If you have credit card debt and are only making the minimum monthly repayment, it can feel never ending. Paying more than the minimum payment could help you reduce the time it takes to become debt free. If you have high interest loans pay those off first and look at increasing your repayments if you can. If you pay more off your loans each month you will be charged less interest and you can clear your debts faster, which often gives you a better return than other forms of savings.

Buying a house When you have a clear picture of your finances and you have an idea of how much of a deposit you will need, make a commitment to save a set amount each month.

If you are a first-time buyer and would like to take out a mortgage on a property worth more than €220,000, a 90% limit will apply to the first €220,000 with an 80% limit applying on any excess over this amount. For example, if you would like to buy a house worth €250,000, your lender will lend you €220,000. This figure is made up of 90% of €222,000 plus 80% of €30,000 (the excess over the threshold amount of €220,000). You will have to fund the remaining €28,000 yourself.

If you are not a first-time buyer, different rules will apply. A lender may lend up to 80% of the value of the property that you

wish to buy. For example, if you can afford to buy a house worth €200,000, your lender may lend up to €160,000. This means you need to have the remaining 20%, or €40,000, of the price of the property saved for your deposit.

It is a good idea to set up a separate savings account just for your deposit.

When choosing an account, find out about the terms and conditions you are signing up to, such as what access you will have to your money. Think about your savings goal as this will be important in terms of the type of account you choose. On www.consumerhelp.ie there is a regular savings cost comparison where you can compare the various accounts available and the interest you could earn. During 2014 the regular savings comparison tool on www.consumerhelp.ie had over 31,000 visits from consumers, so it is definitely work checking it out. After a period of regular saving you may consider putting your money into a fixed term account for a better rate of interest. It’s important to note that when you submit a mortgage application lenders will look to see that you have a sufficient lump sum for a deposit.

Saving for a rainy day If you are simply looking to make saving a habit, now is as good a time as any to start. You may be sick of constantly finding yourself stuck for cash at the end of the month. Having reviewed your finances and found ways to cut down on unnecessary expenses you may be surprised at how much extra money you have left over. Instead of spending this money on things you don’t need, put it away for a rainy day. A good rule of thumb is to try and build up around three months’ salary for emergencies.

Or, you could make this the year that you pay for your holiday, before you go, rather than putting most of it on the credit card. See how much interest you could earn on your savings in our regular savings cost comparison.

For more information on saving or if you need some tips on ways to save money visit www.consumerhelp.ie.

Visit the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission website www.consumerhelp.ie for expert information and useful tools on consumer rights and personal finance.

InTouch April/May 2015