IN A powerful demonstration of opposition to the budget education cutbacks, more than 50,000 attended a "Schools United" march on Saturday organised by the teacher' unions.
While thousands of teachers and trainee teachers marched in the Dublin protest, a striking feature of the demonstration was the huge number of ordinary citizens protesting about the budget.
The mass demonstration was also attended by thousands of third-level students.
Irish National Teachers' Organisation general secretary John Carr told the protesters in Merrion Square that the presence of so many on the streets sent a clear message to Government about the kind of society people wanted, and wanted children to grow up in.
"Today, a message has been sent to Government that people don't want children herded into overcrowded classes."
He said the protest made a statement that while economic wellbeing is important, we live in communities of people, including children.
"Adults will play a part and pay their fair share in finding a resolution to the current economic crisis. But we will not support a savage and misguided attack on children which is this Government's solution," said Mr Carr.
"Shame on the Minister who thought up these cutbacks. Shame on the Cabinet that approved these cutbacks. Shame on the Government that would implement these cutbacks."
Despite the huge turnout, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe gave no hint of compromise over the weekend.
In a statement issued to coincide with the protest he said: "I know that some of the measures, particularly those affecting schools, are unpopular but the gravity of the financial situation we face makes them absolutely necessary."
Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland president Pat Hurley said education had been neglected during the Celtic Tiger boom years. "As a result there is no fat to trim from the education sector. Parents know this and teachers know this," he said.
The budget cutbacks, he added, would mean larger classes, less subject choice, fewer English language support teachers and home school liaison teachers, removal of grants for Traveller education, transition year, leaving cert applied physics and chemistry, and school books. These cuts cannot fail to have an effect on every school in the country. Every child and their family will be affected by these cuts.
Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) general secretary Peter McMenamin strongly refuted suggestions by the Minister that the unions are "scaremongering".
"We are not overstating the effect of the loss of teachers on our schools, the loss of subjects . . . of funding for books and for essential programmes."
He continued: "Nether are we here just to look after ourselves as teachers - as some commentators and covert plants on RTE's Questions and Answerswould have you believe. We are here to protect the system because we care."
TUI president Don Ryan said the budget education cuts "lack care . . . lack compassion."
In his statement, the Minister said, "it was simply not realistic that education be completely exempted from any spending restrictions in the current economic climate."
The Minister said the cost-saving measures the Government outlined in the budget are necessary to safeguard the future of our country and of our children. "I am asking for the support of the entire education sector in helping us to work through this very difficult time for our country," he added.
