DTE3 PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION- TUTORIAL PAPERS TEMPLATE

Trevor Burke G00292845

The Irish Education System:
Date of Submission: 1-10-13
1. CONCISE SUMMARY OF READING

Chapter 1
Introduction
The Author gives factual information explaining the development, operating
and contemporary status of post primary schooling in Ireland. The Author is
reaching out to the teaching community to enhance their understanding of
the ancient profession, to help the aspiring teacher understand evolution of
that community, therefore, entails entering into a system that has evolved
over many centuries (Walsh, 2009).The author also want the aspiring teacher
to know that he/she are entering into a complex system that has evolved
and developed because of specific pressures and needs. The Author talks of
the transparency in post primary schools. He tries to provide an overview of
the evolution explaining how and why schooling has developed and
provides an up to date requirement and regulations for aspiring trenchers.
The Evolution of Post Primary Institutions in Ireland (1922-1957)
The Author explains that the British administered Ireland education system
before 1922 he talks about the evolution of post primary where Patrick Pearse
a school teacher and a leader of the Dublin Rising of 1916 calling the post
primary system a grinding murder machine. The fact that the Irish people
were in control of the country no changes were to come about the post
primary schools in particular were left to the system there during the British
ruling (Denominational Structure).The new government neither finance,
funded, nor appointed teachers. In 1925 fewer than 1,000 pupils sat the
leaving certificate examination. The author then explains that the commission
on technical education drew up a list of proposals later contained in the

vocational education act (1930), showing that the schooling in Ireland at the
time was failing to attract those who would not benefit from an academic
curriculum and that all children were entitled to education, this was the origin
of the vocational education system, but the free education didnt arrive until
1966. This was the first state-sponsored system of schooling after
independence.
Changing Times
The author explains that Fine Fail win the election of 1957 and the then Noel
Brown a minister of the Clann na Poblachta party argues that the system
reinforced social hierarchies, keeping social standards within each family up
until the 60s when the Labour Party published challenge and change in
education, calling for free education. A notable land mark in this was the
publication in 1958 of the government white paper on economic expansion
which lead to the first economic programme and changed attitudes to
economic and industrial development (Coolahan, 1981) The early 1960s
saw a growing awareness of the limitations of the secondary schools. The
author explains that the then Fine Fail party was coming against increasing
pressure from opposition parties to have a free education the then minister in
haste Donogh OMalley announced the provision of free education (1967)
this even came as a surprise to his own colleagues. This seen the attendance
increase from 148,000 to 185,000 in one year. The author then explores the
opening of regional technical colleges which where to cater for the needs of
non-academic pupils that where not catered for in the traditional secondary
school
Developments in Education Policy and Practice (1984-1995)
The author then explores Gemma Hussy time as the minister for education,
she targeted a number of issues that still existed, and a major one was
gender relation issues, equal opportunities with in the classroom. The big issue
that she addressed was the place of a woman in educational management.
In 1992 The green paper was published Minister Niamh Bhreathnach
emphasising the need for change as a global society targeting areas for
those who are disadvantaged socially, economically, physically or mentally
looking to create a link for a home/school/community based projected.
This then lead to the 1995 publication of the white paper, which submitted
five pillars that the policy should be developed from.
Quality
Equality
Pluralism
Partnership
Accountability

The focus was on educational disadvantage sections, The leaving Certificate

Applied (LCA) and The Leaving Certificate Vocational Program where
introduced on a phased basis from September 1995
The Education Act 1998
A follow on from the green and white acts was the Education Act 1998
which seen enormous changes, This act added career guidance, providing
SEN(special educational needs) to pupils while developing a holistic
approach in schools .
The author talks about school management and operations and explaining
the types of schools,
Types of Schools
1. Voluntary secondary schools
2. Community and comprehensive.
3. Vocational Schools
All of the above have different ethos and different historical antecedents.
The Teaching Council :Qualifications and Registration as a post primary
teacher
The author then explains the qualification needed to become a teacher and
that all teachers need to become a member of the TCI within three years of
qualification.
Chapter 2.
The author goes through the detail of how a student teacher should be
prepared for Teaching Practice and talking about the initial school visit. The
importance of watching school teachers on what techniques work well and
what fails. The author then explores the planning for TP and how it is vital as a
student teacher can face many challenges such as not being familiar with
course content, what level to pitch the lesson at as they will not have had the
students before.
The author explores classroom managements, time management, Planning
and School visits and pacing is discuses in depth.
Conclusion
The author is providing us with a very clear view on the history of Irish
education and how is arose thought the times. He clearly lines out the
different types of schools and how they came about and the acts that made
this happen. He then explains the different educational degree
qualifications needed to become a teacher and what bodies you need to

join as a qualified teacher.

In the second chapter he explores what steps a student teacher needs to
know while on teaching practice paying particular attention to classroom
management, planning, observation and pacing.

2. CRITICAL REFLECTION

In this paper the author is providing us with facts and helpful information
rather that arguing any points he/she uses words like explains, the period
between and words like the majority, this strengthens my beliefs that he is
providing us with helpful information. The author has provided us with well
written, well laid out with good flow backed with the experts research.
The strength of this article is the simple English no grandiloquent (Complex
words used when a simple alternate could have done). This article would be
advantageous to all student teachers and I believe that for any student
teacher to become an educator you need to be familiar with these areas.
This paper ties in with our subject with Dermot Quish and even though we
had covered this subject I still found this interesting reading which proves that
the author was successful.
There were numerous learnings in this paper
I found it strange that it took so long for the government to get
involved in the education of this country after Free State 1922.
Why was this?
I didnt know that Patrick Pearse was a teacher?
I found it hard to believe that it was for the first time in 1982 that
women could hold a position in educational management
board.
This paper show clearly the Legacy and legislation can be clearly seen.
Drudy states the same in her book Education in Ireland
It is possible to see strong points of connection between many of the major
education innovations from penal times to the mid-19th century, and to
attentively suggest that the legacy and legislation can be clearly seen
(Drudy, 2009)

3. LIST OF REFERENCES

Coolahan, J. (1981). Irish Education History and Structure. Dublin: Institute of

Publin Administration.
Drudy, S. (2009). Education in Ireland Challenge and Change. Dublin: Gill &
Macmillan.
Walsh, B. &. (2009). A Guide to Teaching Practice in Ireland. Dublin: Gill &
Macmillian Ltd.