tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-464668402831298194.post1519734610514808841..comments2023-10-26T12:19:08.652+01:00Comments on Cllr Joe Ryan's Blog: Class size, time to turn the tideAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13337418092426100439noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-464668402831298194.post-84333056883403817102008-09-03T23:46:00.000+01:002008-09-03T23:46:00.000+01:00Congrats on a fine post Joe. The government's hypo...Congrats on a fine post Joe. The government's hypocrisy on this emerges from a politically-motivated ideal which cherishes privilege and disavows equality. It is the weakest and those with most needs who suffer most from Victorian class sizes, and society as a whole is devalued with the watering down of a universal right to the best education possible.<BR/><BR/>I am teaching a 4th Class of 32 pupils, something which belongs to another era, just like FF's record on primary education at a time of enormous wealth for some in the country. Organising to fight this disgrace is the first step to consigning them to the dustbin of history.Dermot Looneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09706788516121375111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-464668402831298194.post-44833542548040880012008-09-03T19:21:00.000+01:002008-09-03T19:21:00.000+01:00I agree strongly with you in particular your view ...I agree strongly with you in particular your view that the most important resource is the human input. Learning support in Co Wexford is significantly better at primary than secondary. Often the time allocation per pupil does not follow on to secondary, a stage I'd argue when it is most needed. A few schools account for 50% of the allocated learning support at Second level in Wexford. To be fair I think the values of the school in what they see their role as, is just as significant as departmental inertia.<BR/>Thanks for your comment and keep looking in as its an issue i'll follow upAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13337418092426100439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-464668402831298194.post-82234238534797772702008-09-03T18:36:00.000+01:002008-09-03T18:36:00.000+01:00Hi Joe,As a person working in early education I am...Hi Joe,<BR/>As a person working in early education I am well aware of the importance of reducing the pupil teacher ratio. Children learn in the context of human relationships and our teachers receive excellent training that emphasises the importance of prevention rather than remediation. If we address the PTR issue then we may reduce the need for special educational resources by providing the most important resource - a human resource. Teachers may then have the time to respond to childrens' needs on an individual basis and provide an inclusive education for all. In the long run we may save a lot of money by preventing the development of educational problems in the future.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09433536184341538942noreply@blogger.com