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Junior Cert students want classes on sex and drugs

A nationwide consultation on Junior Cert reform finds that students want more education on social issues.

SECONDARY SCHOOL PUPILS have told a nationwide consultation on Junior Cert reform that they should be given more classes on sexuality, sex education, alcohol and drugs.

A report launched this morning by education minister Ruairí Quinn and children’s minister Frances Fitzgerald showed that students felt the current curriculum in Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) required expansion to cover more real-life concerns.

“Students called for classes that cover issues such as sexuality, sex education, personal health, alcohol and drug education, politics and study skills,” said Lisa Sheehy of the Dáil na nÓg Council, which assisted with the consultation.

Participants also complained that SPHE should not be taught by religion teachers, and suggested that outside experts be invited into schools to support students as they learn on life skills issues.

Only four subjects – SPHE, English, Maths and Civic Social and Political Education – should be mandatory, the students thought, with other subjects adjusted so that practical work like portfolios and journals are given greater weighting.

Other suggestions from the students were to shorten the Junior Certificate exam cycle to two years, extending the Senior Cycle by another year in return.

Students also suggested that First Year pupils in secondary school be assigned to permanent classrooms, with teachers moving between rooms rather than students, in order to help ease the transition to Second Level teaching.

The consultation’s results have been sent to the National Council for Curriculum Assessment for its consideration.

Fitzgerald said she “strongly believed in the importance of consulting with children and young people, and enabling their participation in decision-making issues on issues that affect their lives.”

A national literacy plan launched by Quinn last week outlined plans which would limit the number of subjects that a Junior Cert exam student can take to eight.

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18 Comments
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    Mute Patrick McEneaney
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:14 AM

    Is it too late in the year to whipp out the bbq for one last hurrah?

    69
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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:23 AM

    Not at all. Get it out. Mount Congreve Gardens are open in Waterford this Sat & Sun for a rare weekend. Try & get there if you can, the place is magical.

    33
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    Mute Barry Aston
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:00 AM

    SCANGERS!!!!! Please leave the 40 foot alone! Or at least take your rubbish with you.

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:53 AM

    SCANGERS!!! Head to the 40 Foot. Howth will be, umm, on fire.

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    Mute Gahan Frost
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    Sep 20th 2013, 7:36 AM

    Nice!!!

    43
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    Mute ThomasFrancisMeagher
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:21 AM

    The Sunny South-East leading the way again.

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    Mute Matt
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    Sep 20th 2013, 11:30 AM

    Im in Dublin this weekend 22 degrees Sat-Mon Woohoo

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    Mute Dermot Fennelly
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:22 AM

    has to go down as the best summer ever ,

    41
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    Mute Lloyd Christmas
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    Sep 20th 2013, 7:48 AM

    Just in time for the match, next week Oktoberfest

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    Mute Matt
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    Sep 20th 2013, 11:56 AM

    The first 2 weeks of October last year we had temperatures up to 26 degrees. Never forget it. Then Halloween it dropped to 9. Lets hope we get a repeat this year.

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    Mute Simone Behal
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:12 AM

    The ocean will be freezing ! Brrrr! And the Dr will have a bumper week with all the flu’s from all those who stripped off !

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    Mute P O Leary.
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:40 AM

    Buzz killer !!!!

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:41 AM

    I’ll ask them to put the immersion on for you.

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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Sep 20th 2013, 8:46 AM

    Actually – it looks like average sea temperatures are actually HIGHER in September than in July.

    http://www.seatemperature.org/europe/ireland/dun-laoghaire.htm

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    Mute Johnny Ace
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    Sep 20th 2013, 7:44 AM

    Yesssssss!

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    Mute john cleary
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    Sep 20th 2013, 9:03 AM

    Sea isn’t cold. Was like summer last Friday and Saturday in Lahinch, great surfing.
    Same again this weekend!

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    Mute Cathal Leonard
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    Sep 20th 2013, 7:44 AM

    Great video, freeeeeestyleeee thanx

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    Mute Tús Nua
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    Sep 20th 2013, 11:15 AM

    Despite the economic downturn a bit of sunshine can lift the spirits

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    Mute AggressiveSecularist
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    Sep 20th 2013, 11:21 AM

    20 degrees is far too cold for swimming. It’s not warm whether by any standard.

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    Mute Ian Walsh
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    Sep 20th 2013, 11:44 AM

    Maybe in you whiney opinion…

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    Mute On Raglan Road
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    Sep 20th 2013, 12:07 PM

    Don’t worry. We’re going to ship you up some warm water from Miami. It’s 86f down here:)

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    Mute Liz Bond-Blanch
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    Sep 20th 2013, 4:32 PM

    The sea requires a lot of energy to warm up. This has been happening over the great summer we’ve had so the sea temperature is most likely better now than in July!

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    Mute 1 Human Being
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    Sep 20th 2013, 5:42 PM

    The elimination of two seasons is getting beyond a joke it’s autumn. Spring and autumn are seasons in Ireland. So if they are included and not americanised this is normal type of weather for the season that is in it seen as it is harvest time and not the fall THIS IS AUTUMN. Rant over

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