ASTI conference: Secondary teacher delegates publicly praised the decision by the primary teachers' union to withdraw co-operation for published inspection reports. However, the private mood at yesterday's conference was less enthusiastic in relation to their own situation.
"There's no appetite for a fight at the ASTI," said one delegate.
Another said "strike" was a dirty word at the union.
Minister Mary Hanafin yesterday warned the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) refusal to co-operate with the inspectors would be seen as industrial action and therefore in breach of Sustaining Progress agreements. A 2.5 per cent pay rise under Sustaining Progress is due to teachers in June.
Bernadine O'Sullivan congratulated the INTO for its action and reminded ASTI delegates that the publication of school evaluation reports could lead to the compilation of league tables, which are banned under the Education Act.
Susie Hall congratulated the primary teachers' union on its courage. "The department is subjecting the teaching profession to a level of public scrutiny not required in other areas of the public service," she said.
Ciarán Christie was not convinced of the INTO's courage on the issue. "I don't know if the backbone's there to see it through. The INTO may be planning their climbdown as we speak." Other delegates spoke of their experience of inspection, and described the ensuing reports as "bland" and "uncontroversial".
A number of delegates raised the issue of the professionalism of the inspectors, with Mattie Quinn of East Galway saying: "Some have left the classroom because they couldn't cope, others are coming from primary classrooms - it's a farce."
Noel Buckley suggested that inspectors be required to spend two out of every five years teaching in the classroom so they could make valid judgments.
The focus of many inspectors was on issues like use of textbooks and resources, said Latin teacher Jerry Murphy.
"I was accused of using a textbook that was out of date. When my principal inquired about the complaint, the inspector said the textbook was old-fashioned and rigid. Latin is old-fashioned and rigid," he said, to an amused audience. He was also asked why his pupils had not been shown Russell Crowe's Gladiator.
Joe Moran of the Tipperary branch accused the department of adopting an "Anglo market culture", and attacked Fine Gael's spokeswoman on education, Olwyn Enright, for supporting league tables.
There was a murmur of disapproval through the room as one teacher described the "scurrilous and disgraceful" practice of certain schools of publishing their own evaluation reports in local newspapers.
"I dread to read the report where designated disadvantaged schools like mine, where we have to chase cows out of the field for PE, are pitted against private schools who bring rugby internationals in to coach their boys on the weekend," said Gretta Harrison.
A motion was passed to prepare an annual report for convention, to outline the effects of the evaluations on schools, teachers and the education system.