Esther de Búrca

Teacher| AP 2 Postholder¦ Debating Mentor| The West| Views expressed are my own

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@2020External @time_lc @issu4u @VoiceforTeacher
Home-educated students have been ignored by Government in the Calculated Grades process. Would like to hear from anyone else affected by this - msg below or DM #LeavingCert2020 #LeavingCert #homeschooling #calculatedgrades

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

As the Minister for Education @1Hildegarde speaks at the ASTI & TUI conventions, the plight of external LC candidates remains utterly uncertain, due to the continuous assessment nature of the AACs. The minister must fully include ALL students, both mainstream & external.

[Home Education Rights Ireland @herightsireland]

The new Leaving Certificate excludes homeschooled students - read our article here. Get involved with the campaign to protect the constitutional right to home educate @IrishTimesEdu_ @Independent_ie @JackWhiteJ
https://t.co/kxTMPbnNbS

[Home Education Rights Ireland @herightsireland]

The new Leaving Certificate excludes homeschooled students - read our article here. Get involved with the campaign to protect the constitutional right to home educate @IrishTimesEdu_ @Independent_ie @JackWhiteJ
https://t.co/kxTMPbnNbS

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

New LC plans seem to have completely excluded any student who does not attend mainstream school. There is no facility for them to complete the compulsory AACs This is extremely concerning, considering home education is a constitutionally protected right #edchatie

[Home Education Rights Ireland @herightsireland]

Senior Cycle Reform appears to have completely excluded home-educated and out-of-school learners from accessing the new Leaving Certificate.

This is unacceptable.

Today we yet again relayed our urgent concerns to Minister for Education, Helen McEntee.

#edchatie #LeavingCert

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@mjoran @JenniferHorgan5 @CCotterXoxo But is there any other way in Ireland for teachers to influence educational reform other than through the teaching unions? Does the government ever engage with other teaching bodies or groups outside the unions? Many teachers don’t agree with the unions, their views matter too.

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@NagleMuireann @JenniferHorgan5 @CCotterXoxo Dept of Ed seems to think they have consulted with all teachers when they make token gestures to unions - yet many don’t belong to a union or don’t agree with union positions on issues. There should be a way for all teachers to make their views known on ‘reforms’ #edchatie

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@lesleybyrne @CCotterXoxo I was unaware that the dept designed the papers with loss of learning in mind - where did they say this?

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@RobertChaney @CCotterXoxo Department of Education appears to have no interest in engaging with teachers or in listening to our evidenced- based input. Very concerning.

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@hispanista @gregfoley2002 @RobertChaney I think we place too much value on attending 3rd level. Too many young people think they must attend go to college/uni, when there are other far better & more suitable pathways to success that they could take.

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@gregfoley2002 I’m working through second year German summer tests, and sure enough, the students who performed well in their CA are also scoring well in the written test.

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@conorsmurf @ciaraquill @rhetorician @KMUBarry @gregfoley2002 Can you though? Most of Ireland’s major professions have been victims of the plague of corruption...would teachers/ Department of Education somehow be exempt? I speak as a teacher myself !!

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@NewstalkFM @NTBreakfast When I look back at the road I’ve traveled academically, it may be that the LC was my greatest achievement. I’m sure there are so many who would agree. #LeavingCert2022 #LeavingCert https://t.co/z2YCeXDWCi

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@GarethOCal The #LeavingCert, for many of us, a supreme achievement, a truly accurate snapshot. https://t.co/z2YCeXDWCi #LeavingCert2022

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@sccenglish It is so important for CPD providers to be aware of the reality in schools. So much CPD assumes we have unlimited access to IT & other resources when the opposite is often true. We need CPD that enables us be better teachers - where we are & with what we already have #edchatie

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@sccenglish Would highly recommend Droichead - I found it a great way to reflect on my own teaching practice & also to input constructively & non-critically into the development of new teachers.

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@KMUBarry @MrCDavey And then they get 2 Maths classes a week. Key skills in logic, rational thinking & basic numeracy fall by the wayside as kids learn to be ‘kind to themselves’.

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@MSuaimhneach @brenos100 @IrishTimes I've never EVER heard of a student complain that they were stressed by media coverage of the exams. Ever. I do know, though, that the SEC has been at the receiving end of unpleasant media attention over the past few years, no doubt they'd appreciate if that could stop.

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@philipnolan1 @brenos100 @IrishTimes Good point. What is most alarming about this is the involvement of Andrea Feeney, CEO of the State Examinations Commission - 'We'd like a moratorium if possible'. How dare she ask for the media to stop scrutinizing the work of this state agency

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

@simonmlewis Or else it's just more proof that we 'forget' the positives in our pasts and remember, often vividly, the negatives. https://t.co/DKsWNkCoX4

[Esther de Búrca @BurcaEsther]

'One parent, who did not want to be named...' Anonymity in cases like this is always suspicious. Indicates there is something to hide. People should have the guts to put a name to their opinions.

[The Irish Times @IrishTimes]

Parents ‘appalled’ at school’s refusal to teach about ‘same-sex friendships’ https://t.co/A4KWlPR9rI