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Mindfulness in schools and less focus on points: What politicians want for Irish schoolchildren

The Oireachtas Education Committee has made a number recommendations to improve the mental health of school children.

REDUCING STRESS ON school children, introducing mindfulness and rolling out counsellors in every school in Ireland.

These are just some of the things politicians sitting on the Oireachtas Education Committee think should happen in schools.

Though the Dáil is yet to resume again for the autumn, members of the committee gathered to launch its new report today, which has some interesting ideas about how to promote positive mental health in young people.

Whether there is too much of an emphasis being placed on the academic achievements of students was one of the main issues the committee wanted to investigate. It also wanted to find out if there was enough focus on self-development and coping strategies for the day-to-day challenges young people face.

So, what needs to happen?

Not all about points

The focus on achieving high points in State exams is too high, said the committee. It said other things should be taken into consideration, pointing out that education should not be wholly focused on the academic.

A review of the current college entry scheme – namely the CAO – should be undertaken, said the committee, which added that emphasis on academic achievement is resulting in additional stress on young people.

Similar to other countries, such as the US, the committee believes that non-academic achievements, such as taking part in youth theatre, sports and other extracurricular activities, should be taken into consideration when a student is applying for college.

Mindfulness

The rise in the sale of mindfulness books shows there is an interest in the movement – so why not have it in schools, said the committee.

Research has shown there are benefits of mindfulness in alleviating symptoms of mental illness, and it has already been integrated into schools in other countries.

The education committee wants an expert group to be set up to investigate “the appropriateness, feasibility and best practice approach” of introduction of mindfulness in primary schools, particularly with a view to creating a standardised system, if possible, for all teachers.

In addition, it is also recommending a review of the wellbeing curriculum, which is being rolled out to children in the junior cycle this year.

Counsellors for all schools

Today’s report states that the government should investigate the introduction of school-based counselling nationwide.

School counsellors provide ongoing help for students with problems in many different countries, such as parts of the US, Canada and Australia. They provide support and early intervention for students on a daily basis.

This job was often taken up by guidance counsellors in Ireland, however, numbers were cut during the recession. It’s included in the Programme for Government that numbers should be reinstated in schools, and the committee wants to explore the provision of psychotherapy training and other further professional development for guidance counsellors in secondary schools.

It’s believed this may be the most cost-effective method to provide access to counselling in schools, said the report.

Anti-bullying programme in EVERY school

There is a real need to get real about bullying, said the committee, and it recommended an anti-bullying plan to be rolled out in every school, if one doesn’t exist already.

The teacher training programme should also be revised to incorporate a module of resilience and promoting positive mental health in schools. Teachers also need to be given the time and resources to work on building such initiatives.

Every school in Ireland needs to introduce a strategy on how it is going to promote positive mental health for students, said the committee.

Chair of the committee, Fianna Fáil’s Fiona O’Loughlin said the committee recognises that mental health issues are complex and there is no one-size-fits-all solution.

“We are aware however, that school and the interactions between teachers and students play a hugely important role in promoting positive mental health amongst young people. In issues regarding mental health, early intervention is critical,” she said, adding:

The education system must support children to be confident and have the ability to achieve their full potential in whatever role they take. The mental health of children should be placed at the heart of the education system, but more needs to be done to support students and teachers both inside and outside the classroom and there needs to be greater integration between the whole community and schools in order to effectively promote positive mental health in schools.
Adopting the recommendations in this report would put the needs of both teachers and students first and allow teachers have the resources necessary to ensure that all interactions between teachers and students are constructive and promote positive mental health among the school community as a whole.

Read: Minister says Nóirín O’Sullivan’s pension will reflect her ‘experience, expertise and rank’>

Read: Bottle deposit scheme on the way for Scotland, but Irish government says it’s still too expensive>

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56 Comments
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    Mute Arthur Pewty
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:25 PM

    If only we could replace religion with mindfulness in schools.

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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:06 PM

    @Arthur Pewty: mindfulness elevates weakness and vulnerability over strength, it’s a losers ideology.

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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:32 PM

    @Arthur Pewty:
    Religious schools are very happy to have religious education.

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    Mute Atheos Euripides
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:38 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: Mindfulness is not an ideology, it is meditation for relaxation, loser.

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    Mute WilhelminaMCallaghan
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    Sep 12th 2017, 6:05 PM

    @neilo: wow that many !!!

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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Sep 12th 2017, 7:13 PM

    @neilo:
    Quite right too.

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    Mute Alison Maguire
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:15 PM

    That’s a great idea. Teach them early how to relax their minds and not get overwhelmed. This gives them valuable coping skills they were use again and again when times are tough. Could prevent suicides too.

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:52 PM

    @Alison Maguire: put according to some posters on here it’s because “their soft”.. Idiots

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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:26 PM

    @Acedeuce: facts don’t care about your feelings you fragile little beta.

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:31 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: mental health is no joke Johnny.. I’d suggest you learn about the subject a bit more, however I get the feeling you don’t really care nor want to know.. Just stay ignorant.. And I don’t know what you were trying to achieve by calling me a “fragile little beta”.. But whatever. Good luck

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    Mute Atheos Euripides
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:44 PM

    @Acedeuce: He’s just a triggered little Broflake who is petrified of change, wants us all to move back into caves and kiss the bishops ring.

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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:17 PM

    What’s the story with modern Irish kids being so soft?

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    Mute Mr. H
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:37 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: absolutely! Seems we’re intentionally trying to breed a generation of spineless wimps who will just fall into the status quo without question and obey whatever their screens tell ‘em to do! 1984 anybody?

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:44 PM

    @Mr. H: what a pair of conts.

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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:47 PM

    @Paul Fahey: you’re just another softcock presumably?

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:48 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: what’s wrong with mindfulness? This is the best idea I’ve seen in a while.. More important than religion imo.. It’s nothing to do with “being soft” it’s just a way of protecting your mental health so that when they grow up they can take on the world probably much better than the last generation because there won’t be no stigma attached to mental health and they can prevent issues.

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    Mute monkeysocks
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:54 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: and you’re a bell end of the highest order.

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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:57 PM

    @Acedeuce: it will create a generation of emotionally incontinent beta males.

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:01 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: so you’re saying mental health is something we should just forget about? Teach about sky fairys instead?

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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:08 PM

    @Acedeuce: what do you mean forget about mental health? We’ve never had more coverage and conversations about mental health then we do at present. We don’t need a school curriculum teaching young men to sit around crying and discussing their emotions when they should be doing actual academics.

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:11 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: you obviously haven’t got a clue about how mindfulness is thought and practiced. Go research before you start taking out your arse

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    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:19 PM

    @Johnny Gunn : I suggest you go and read up just a little on the subject of Bushido. Your ignorance has already made you a loser.

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    Mute Johnny Gunn
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:25 PM

    @Patrick J. O’Rourke: another softcock beta male. Ireland is awash with losers like you it seems.

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    Mute seamus mcdillon
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:32 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: you’ve made my day reading this. It just shows that having adults like you drives home the need for something like this.

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:37 PM

    @seamus mcdillon: quite ironic isn’t it?

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    Mute Ian O' Connor
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    Sep 12th 2017, 5:31 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: you keep calling people losers . Are you trying to affirm something. I’d like to see what a big man you are behind your screen. Guaranteed you too have your own deficiencies. The only spineless idiot here is you trying to make yourself feel better by downing others

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    Mute WilhelminaMCallaghan
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    Sep 12th 2017, 6:08 PM

    @Mr. H: pretty much on the button ! What politicians want a nation of strong well educated people with confidence that has a critical conscience?? None!!! why?because then ” they” won’t be in power simple as that. The more stupid ,ignorant, full of ” religious ” crap non questioning lot the more they can manipulate and control for generations on end !

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    Sep 12th 2017, 6:30 PM

    @WilhelminaMCallaghan: There is indeed a huge problem with the education system and because it is inter-generational ,the matter doesn’t get dealt with properly. The many keyboard warriors suddenly fall silent when the need to partition medical/engineering sciences from astronomy/large scale terrestrial sciences comes under scrutiny and especially the contrived notions passed through the education system as ‘achievements’ when clearly they are not.

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    Mute Patrick J. O'Rourke
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    Sep 12th 2017, 8:47 PM

    @Johnny Gunn: You will always be a loser. Maybe one day when you’re grown up and have the courage to run an account with your own name instead of some penile issue thing you have, you may understand a little more and make you capable of mating and passing on your genes and dying young. Women generally don’t breed with your ilk as you are obviously genetically and intellectually deficient. Anyway if it was a few hundred years ago and you said that to me in person your head would have been off your shoulders before you had finished the sentence. Choose your weapon wisely you silly little boy. I’ve done things in my life that you could only dream about.

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    Mute Mr. H
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:29 PM

    So yea, focus on “feelings” rather than an actual competitive education?? Ffs…the future is already fooked!

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    Mute Acedeuce
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:52 PM

    @Mr. H: close minded

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    Mute sean o'dhubhghaill
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:53 PM

    JC Wellbeing will have 400 hours.
    JC Science will have 220 hours.
    Enough said.

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    Mute marg fitzgerald
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:05 PM

    Meanwhile private school students will focus on points and get 3rd level places and relax in comfortable lives

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:18 PM

    @marg fitzgerald:

    There are two reason for that 1) accountability of teachers in public schools and 2) lack of available university places.

    I took my older child out of public school this year and sent him to private (just following his junior cert). The difference is like chalk and cheese. Unfortunately, too many teachers in public schools get away a lazy approach to their job.

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    Mute Gary
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    Sep 12th 2017, 6:50 PM

    @marg fitzgerald: Mindfulness is compulsory in both private and public schools in first and second year. Don’t let facts get in the way of a rant.

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    Mute Gary
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    Sep 12th 2017, 6:55 PM

    @Nick Allen: Many many moons ago I taught for a few years in a public school and a private school before moving on and the qualifications for both sets of teachers are identical. They all have degrees and postgrads. I had zero experience and got a job in a private school first. I no longer do it but my brother does and he says it’s still the same.

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    Mute Neuville-Kepler62F
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:07 PM

    Mindfulness .. full marks for lateral thinking …
    Happy kids will be the most productive, successful kids ….
    Societists needed not Economists to build future successful societies.

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    Mute John15
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:13 PM

    Why don’t we just put them all on social welfare right now and close the schools, so these snowflakes can stay at home and don’t have to deal with the big bad world out there.

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    Mute John15
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    Sep 12th 2017, 10:04 PM

    Oh burnnn…….!

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    Mute Adrian
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:38 PM

    Our useless politicians busying themselves with the issues that won’t get them into any further trouble, making great progress dealing with the truly important issues like the dail prayer, the dail dress code and mindfulness and councilling in schools.

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    Mute Alison Maguire
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:47 PM

    @Adrian: counselling in schools is vitally important.

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    Mute Joseph Mulligan
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:49 PM

    So will mindfulness in class be delivered by properly qualified people? It seems like a sticking plaster approach. The world that our young people interact with is so different than the one we were used to. Morality and Behavioural guidelines are not as clear any more. They have been devalued and must be restored by reinforcing good behaviour and making miscreants accountable for their bad behaviour. The herd mantality needs to be exposed for what it is.We need to change the standards in our society be accountable to our peer group for our opinions and behaviour and stand up for what is right

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    Mute Alison Maguire
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    Sep 12th 2017, 7:27 PM

    @Jayo Breathneach: what does it matter as long as the instructor is knowledgeable on mindfulness and garda vetted? Someone with a degree in psychology and someone who took a 3 month course in teaching mindfulness could be compared. The person who learned to teach it is the best option as opposed to the most qualified.

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    Mute keith mahon
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:38 PM

    Mental health and education departments dont work together Fact. Undiagnosed and diagnosed kids are statistically being left with little or no care in schools . Under resourced under funded and the poor staff cant complain in fear for their job. Politicions are nothing more than corrupt self serving neo gombeens who need the masses of gombeen classes uneducated to vote for them. Education system serves you well if you mother and father are wealthy or socially well up their . Free education is for the enslaved masses to exist pay/taken taxes and no more. Mental health is a life long struggle and be sure you will be left without.

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    Mute Alison Maguire
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:46 PM

    @keith mahon: that’s a bit negative.

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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:47 PM

    @keith mahon:

    “…the poor staff cant complain in fear for their job.”

    Any evidence to support that allegation?

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:13 PM

    This article misses the fundamental issue of supply and demand. The basic entry requirements for a University are not very challenging from an academic perspective. The reason that points are high is that there are more people applying for the places in universities than there are places available so a method of qualification is required.

    There is very little difference between the problem with pressure on Leaving cert points and university places and the prices of houses and availability of houses. Maybe some basic economics should be taught to all politicians and journalists.

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    Mute Mia Morrissey
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:40 PM

    Mindfulness is secular , although its roots are in eastern religions and ideas. Its about focusing the mind and realising you are not your thoughts. Its a good idea but needs to be taught by people who.practice it and have passion for it , to students who will find it useful.

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    Mute Gerald Kelleher
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:53 PM

    @Mia Morrissey: I would feel that the vagaries of life after an adult’s school days makes a person appreciate the quieter moments but,of course, this is learned by the school of experience rather than second hand instruction.

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    Mute Lily
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:17 PM

    It is all about the points. My lady has taken up another subject outside of school so she can increase her chances of getting better points. Her Irish is terrible so is doing pass, she got an A in junior cert business studies so that is her extra subject.

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    Mute John003
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    Sep 12th 2017, 3:37 PM

    Mindfulness is an Eastern Religion…..Has its roots in Hinduism and Buddhism….

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    Mute Paul Jennings
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:10 PM

    Headmaster in Co. Louth secondary school . “Why don’t you tell your parents about the happy times you have here, Paul?” “Because, there are no happy…” I didn’t get to finish my reply. “DON’T TALK BACK BOY!!!!!!!!!” He growled.

    Headmaster in Co. Armagh, on just suspecting bullying had taken place. ” I don’t know what was going on there, but we take any instances of bullying or attempted bullying here very seriously indeed. Don’t hesitate to come and talk to me about any anxieties or fears you may have. I know what you went through in your last school.”

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    Mute Paul Jennings
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:18 PM

    @Paul Jennings: The practice of reading out exam results prevailed in both schools, more’s the pity. Nothing was more cringe inducing than my maths results which, for both papers was usually abysmally low. Halfway through reading out the results of the class exams, one of the teachers would proudly (?) proclaim, “some healthy competition there, I am glad to see.”

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    Mute Emmet Dillane
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:09 PM

    We had that in our school…….we called it ‘Keep your eyes open’

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    Mute WilhelminaMCallaghan
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    Sep 12th 2017, 6:26 PM

    The last time I thought of school was talking to my mother. I hated school ( any of the 12 I went to ) I was not a bad student i had the best grades I hated the time wasted in a school , I do not like people around me when I am studying . So I would end up 3 months or more absent . I show up for exams . Never had a problem with that as they were private schools , but what the hell ever for this mindfulness will contribute wow it comes to real work ? And do not give me this hogwash answer of coping skills . I am a survivor I have survived a lot of horrible things and horrible people and times . Focus .know who you are what you want and keep at it. You won’t learn that in no school that is what your parents should be for . School is for a curriculum of basic subjects tools you will implement in your lifetime ,tests are simply to determine if the individual has learn those subjects and what are his or hers areas of aptitude regarding a further education . Take time from that to teach something that is not relevant as mindfulness , is lunacy is create an incomplete incompetent bunch of adults who do not has the skills for academic studies . Unless they want more school days and hours I don’t see the point .

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    Mute
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    Sep 12th 2017, 4:40 PM

    Our whole school and work needs a major overhaul. What we have now is mostly based on the days of slavery and the early days of mass employment. All we have now is better conditions and in most cases better pay and schools have changed.

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