Donnelly, K. The Independent (11 April 2012)
Although they broadly support recent education proposals by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn, bishops in Ireland “are opposed to the proposed scrapping of an old primary school rule, Rule 68, that states religion should underpin every aspect of daily school life.” Quinn established the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism, which issued a report suggesting that eliminating Rule 68 will allow further respect for Ireland’s increasingly diverse population. Finn said, “We live in a changed and changing nation. There is a general acceptance that a greater diversity of primary schooling is necessary and I welcome the readiness among partners to embrace this.” Father Michael Drumm, secretary of the Catholic Schools Partnership, believes the rule can be rephrased but not deleted entirely. This is a contentious issue, as most schools in Ireland are state-funded but Catholic run.
Recently, the government has “thrown out the old syllabus” to institute a new system of education in England. This editorial challenges the government to change the ways that computer technology is taught in schools, ensuring that students know more than typing in a word processor and downloading an app for the iPhone. The editors want students to understand that computers are tools that can be programmed and critiqued. They also want students to learn programming skills in schools. But, the editors remind governmental leaders that effective change is more than rhetoric: “Ultimately, as anyone who has worked in education knows, fine intentions count for little without the human resources to back them. In this sense, bringing technological innovation and best practice to the classroom is much like the art of building a successful syllabus: the result should set good teachers free to teach, and enable the best possible use to be made of their time and attention.” Furthermore, the editors remind readers that digital technology has been important for economic growth and political movements (e.g., the Arab Spring), thus providing compelling reasons to continue to teach about computer technology in schools.
Austria
Der Standard (5 April 2012)
The usual starting time for schools in Austria is 8 a.m. Education expert Andreas Salcher, also a former Austrian politician, argues that children cannot concentrate at such an early time and demands a later start. However, a recent poll among Austrian citizens reveals that 69 percent are against postponing the start of the school day to 9 a.m. and the president of the school inspectors points to the fact that working parents will face severe problems if school starts later. The Minister of Education indicates that the idea can be discussed among school partners, but for the time being is not being addressed in the Ministry.
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Posted in Opinion/Commentary
Tagged Austria