­Issue­No­153 June­2015 ISSN­1393-4813­(Print) ISSN­2009-6887­(Online) “A school is nothing if it is not a place of laughter and song” Bryan MacMahon Keeping in Touch Interactive dialogue with members, and key news items geNeral­Secretary’S­cOmmeNt INTO president Emma Dineen chatting with school leaders at an INTO seminar in Tullamore last month Valuing our teachers s this edition of InTouch goes to print talks on the pride that teachers take in achieving the best for income recovery for public servants are under- children. Away in the Labour Relations Commission. In Irish teachers are among the best in the world. this recession primary teachers along with other Drawn from the best performing school leavers, they members of the public service had their income are well-trained, teach 20 per cent longer than the reduced through the pension related deduction, pay EU average in classes that are, on average, a fifth cuts, loss of allowances as well as through increased bigger than in other EU countries. taxes and charges imposed on all citizens. It is widely acknowledged that decent salaries and e INTO consistently pursued every opportunity working conditions attract the best candidates into available to have teachers’ incomes restored and sought teaching and retain them in the profession. Yet the unwinding of the legislation used to reduce incomes. primary teachers in Ireland earn 80 per cent of It is therefore welcome that a process to unwind the similarly qualified graduates. legislation and restore incomes is underway. It’s time to restore incomes so that primary teachers Despite reductions in income, teachers have given are paid their worth. everything of themselves during hard times. e Teacher morale is an essential ingredient of educa- dedication to all aspects of their pupils’ education tion success. A teaching workforce that is properly and welfare is without question. resourced, rewarded appropriately and that has is edition celebrates aspects of that commitment opportunities for promotion will ensure the very best such as the dedication of primary teachers to sports, outcomes for children. music, the visual arts and the creativity of handwriting. It is essential that government recognises and rewards InTouch June 2015 ontents Emma Dineen, Keeping InTouch INTO News President pictured with Dr Seán 3 Editorial In the News Creamer, Valuing our teachers 13 • New appointments in founder of Head Office National What you need to • Public v private sector pay Children’s know 15 • Support for Nepal Choir 7 • Tribute to Dr Michael • Inspection of schools pg 7 and Moroney, former 16 • INTO activist elected cover INTO Treasurer chair of ICTU Youth • National Children’s Choir Committee • Election results – INTO INTO member’s diary on Education Committee the way to schools • 10 things you should know • Comhar Linn draw 9 • Letters – INTO survey winners on teacher stress and 17 • Re-opening of schools – workload 2015/16 10 • Want to work in Head • Garda vetting - new Office? Vacancy for circular issued Senior Official • INTO visits colleges of • INTO officers’ training education • Information leaflet for Let us know what you think. new graduates published Draw for €50 voucher for letter 18 • An Post/INTO writers each month. Keep up- Handwriting Competition to-date via Twitter, website winners e-newsletter or RSS feed 19 Membership Plus Your • Your member benefit diary is programme – check out on the the latest offers way pg 16 21 ICT in Schools • INTO submission to Oireachtas Committee on ICT in primary schools An Post/INTO Handwriting Competition winners pg 18 22 Tributes Pic: Maxwell Photography • Remembering deceased INTO members circulated education magazine in Ireland. InTouch General Editor: Sheila Nunan 23 Solidarity Articles published in InTouch are also available Editor: Peter Mullan on our website www.into.ie • Global Campaign for Assistant Editor: Lori Kealy e views expressed in this journal are those Education Editorial Assistants: Yvonne Kenny, Niamh of the individual authors and are not necessarily Corduff, Aoife Carton • INTO attends Dóchas endorsed by the INTO. Advertising: Mary Bird Smyth, Aoife Carton conference While every care has been taken to ensure Design: David Cooke that the information contained in this Photography: Moya Nolan, Shutterstock publication is up to date and correct, no 24 Retirements Correspondence to: e Editor, InTouch, responsibility will be taken by the Irish National INTO Head Office, Vere Foster House, • Pictures from retirement Teachers’ Organisation for any error which 35 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 functions held around might occur. Telephone: 01 804 7700 e school garden pg 56 Except where the Irish National Teachers’ the country. Fax: 01 872 2462 Organisation has formally negotiated LoCall: 1850 708 708 agreements as part of its services to members, Email: [email protected] Website: www.into.ie/m.into.ie inclusion of an advertisement does not imply InTouch is published by the Irish National any form of recommendation. While every Teachers’ Organisation and effort is made to ensure the reliability of distributed to members and educational advertisers, the INTO cannot accept liability for institutions. InTouch is the most widely the quality of goods and services offered. InTouch June 2015 Primary School Athletics pg45 June 2015 INTO Advice Newsdesk Teaching Matters Finishing Touches 27 School Leadership 35 Fixed Term 43 FÍS Film Project 61 Noticeboard • Principals’ and Deputy Contracts Cormac Cahill on how to Upcoming events Principals’ Conference • Good news for fixed term get involved and make 2015 teachers movies 62 Comhar Linn • PDST courses for school Crossword leaders 36 INTO Learning 45 Primary School Plus design resources, free • Book an INTO face to face Athletics school tours and an SPHE 28 Managing your or online summer course 86 years and still evolving resource you can download money and expanding says • Your rights regarding 38 Cumann na mBunscol Anthony O’Flynn 63 Scoilnet Panel faulty goods • Schools visit Croke Park Plus visit WW1 Exhibition • Mini Sevens launched 46 New Arts Portal in the National Library 29 From College to Launched and Kilfinane pupils take Classroom 39 Exploding the Myths Digital resources of arts part in a biodiversity field • Interview tips • NERI lays bare a number and education practice trip. of economic myths 30 Planning School 48 Pursuing the dream Building Project? 40 Awards Maebh Harrison is • Checking for asbestos • Showing Racism the Red studying to become a Card primary teacher 31 Understanding your • Bahraini teachers Payslip awarded prize for trade 49 Something old, • PRSI and USC deductions union rights something new… • European award for Blue Fiona Garvey on children’s Star teachers literature 41 The Teaching Council 51 Travel Tips • Consultation on CPD Nancy Cogan has an • Renewing registration adventure on the trans • Plus... the DES announces siberian railway Book a summer course with pilot of new model for INTO Learning pg 36 allocating resource 52 Visual Arts teachers Michael O’Reilly on evaluating your own art lessons 56 SESE Tips School gardening notes Arts portal launched pg 46 for June. e final arti- (Picture: Music Generation) cle in a series from Paddy Madden. 58 Irish Resources Tips from COGG Evaluating your own Competitions 59 Reviews art lessons pg 52 Your chance to win Music, history and number a luxury family break at the ninjas! Sheraton Athlone Hotel – for details on how to Tips for interviews pg 29 enter see page 26 Win tickets to Ed Sheeran concert courtesy of Membership Plus page 19 InTouch June 2015 Keeping InTouch Michael Moroney On 28 April Dr Michael Moroney, retired general both to individual members and to the whole treasurer/deputy general secretary of the INTO, membership. He provided special support to passed away. the foundation of the Separated Teachers’ Michael had a long and distinguished record Support Group. He was a skilled negotiator and of involvement in the INTO from his earliest days led on pensions and salary talks and on several as a teacher in his native Waterford. During the conciliation and arbitration issues, securing 12 years Michael served as principal in Clashmore many improvements. NS, Co Waterford, he served first as secretary of He completed an MLitt thesis in 2002, The the INTO Dungarvan Branch and later as vice Remuneration of National Teachers, !$#! - !% chairperson and chairperson of the Waterford followed by a PhD thesis in 2005, National County Committee. Teachers’ Salaries and Pensions !%#! - " . In 1968 he became the first executive officer of Michael attended his final INTO Congress in the INTO and secretary to the first education Ennis this year. committee. The INTO was represented at his funeral by Following his election in 1978 he served as Emma Dineen, President; Sheila Nunan, General general treasurer/deputy general secretary Secretary and Noel Ward, Deputy General Secretary/ until his retirement in 1997. During his time in General Treasurer. The service was also attended Head Office he provided a committed service by many of Michael’s former INTO colleagues. 30 years ‘Glory Glory Hallelujah’ with the National Children’s Choir In May and June, more than 8,000 fourth, fifth and sixth classes in primary Mairéad Déiseach and Anne Purcell. primary school children in all parts of schools all over the country who learn is year’s repertoire will include the country performed as members of and perform a common repertoire in songs by Brendan Graham, Shaun the National Children’s Choir in venues their schools. Every child in a Davey, Bernard Sexton and Mícheál all over Ireland. participating class is affiliated to the Mac Eoin. e choir was founded 30 years ago in choir – it is neither selective nor e National Children’s Choir is a 1985 by Dr Seán Creamer as Ireland’s specialist. Every child who learns the voluntary organisation run by dedicated contribution to European Music Year repertoire performs in a regional teachers and retired teachers.