Dundalk students express disappointment at yesterday’s teacher strike, accusing teachers of “stubbornness”

ISSU President Craig McHugh

Members of the Irish Second Level Student’s Union (ISSU) in Dundalk have expressed their disappointment with the strike action that saw over 330,000 students “locked out” of education yesterday.

Secondary schools both locally and nationally did not open on Tuesday due to the teaching strikes called upon by ASTI and TUI over their battle against the proposed junior cert reform.

Coláiste Rís student and ISSU President Craig McHugh spoke to Matt Cooper on yesterday’s The Last Word show on Today FM and said he believed the dispute was no longer about junior cert reform, accusing teachers of “stubbornness”.

“I am deeply disappointed that the strikes went ahead. Over 330,000 students like me were affected and the feeling among many that we represent is that this is no longer about opposition to reform, but almost stubbornness.

“The junior cycle was broken and inadequate for the evolving world we live in. The problems outlined by the teaching unions, in my opinion and the students I represent, does not justify an industrial action as large as a strike.

“We’ve compromised and bit our tongue at the reduction of the continuous assessment decision from 60pc to 40pc and I think it’s time for the teaching unions to do the same, move forward and get on with it.

“This reform is good. It works for students and the negatives being outlined may be considered as issues to some, but we don’t and the majority of education stakeholders do not believe this strike is in anyway necessary and that majority stems from students right up to principals and parents.”

Other ISSU representatives from Dundalk including Shay McArdle (O Fiaich College) and Joy Moses (St Vincent’s) echoed Craig’s remarks.

Craig also called upon TUI leader Gerry Quinn to call off the proposed January strike due to its timing and close proximity with Mock Junior Cert and Leaving Cert exams.

Have we a bullying problem locally?

Check out the above Facebook post by local Sinn Féin councillor Edel Corrigan.

Shocking stuff but should we really be so shocked?

Having spoken to a local Garda recently, maybe not.

Members of the Gardaí are currently going around the schools to try and educate students on the dangers of cyber bullying. The problem is said to be “rampant” in at least one local secondary school but all of them have had students affected by it in one way or another.

In the past, when people were bullied they at least had the refuge of their own home to get away from it. However, a combination of the scene described by Cllr Corrigan above and by the ability to bully people via smartphones, tablets and computers, means there is little respite for those who are unlucky enough to be at the receiving end.

Source: Edel Corrigan (Facebook)