My son who is in third class complains that the teacher reads the newspaper in class and does very little teaching. He also gives no homework. I am worried that my son will lose out. Should I approach the principal?
No parent should tolerate unprofessional conduct from any State- funded service. I find it inconceivable that after three years of intense training and ongoing Departmental supervision, that a graduate would emerge who would behave in the manner so described.
I would be very slow to accept this story. Is it conceivable that any adult in charge of 30 eight-year-old children could calmly read a newspaper for more than 10 seconds without total chaos breaking out?
As to the charge that very little homework is given, I would suggest that you consult the child's homework notebook, where a combination of written, reading, and memorisation work is commonly expected. Children can often overlook the non-written aspects of homework.
Having said all that, it is conceivable that, due to teacher shortages, your child's principal has been forced to resort to employing a totally unqualified substitute teacher, who is unable to carry out the duties of the task satisfactorily. In any case, I would check out your child's story with other parents before taking any dramatic actions. In the unlikely event of the allegation proving to be correct, I would report it immediately to the principal.
My daughter is anxious to do nursing in college next year. I believe the points requirement is very high. Is this true?
Nursing in this State is now only available through degree programmes, operated by the third level colleges. This is a major change.
The reason nursing is now taught only at degree level is because of the demands that the profession places on the qualified nurse. Medicine has become a highly sophisticated area, with hugely complex and expensive technology being used by nurses on a daily basis. The level of medical knowledge demanded of today's nurse, requires him or her to study the subject at degree level.
As a result of the design of the CAO application form, over the last few years the initial points for all nursing degrees have been very high, many requiring scores in the mid-400 range. As students could select up to 30 nursing degree options, up to 10.000 students indicated a preference for a nursing course.
A large number of those did not take up the nursing places offered to them in Round One by the CAO and, in many cases, the points total required to secure a place dropped. Many students were eventually offered nursing places, with points totals in the 300 to 400 range.
In the coming year, students wishing to pursue nursing will have to indicate this preference within their 10 degree choices. This should restrict the numbers applying to those who have a serious interest in the profession. It will not reduce the final points requirement below the current levels.
Your daughter also has the option of training in Britain. She should consult her guidance counsellor, who will assist her in completing a UCAS application form before the December closing date.
Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. You can e-mail him your questions to bmooney@irish-times.ie
