THE DEAN AND I....

The Church of Ireland Dean of Belfast, Dr Houston McKelvey, has defended the provision of education in Northern Ireland and claims that the lack of a proper home life, rather than a poor education system, is failing our young people. Speaking at a Christmas Eve service in St Anne's Cathedral, he said that Northern Ireland teachers are among the best in the world.

The Dean has half a point. We have some very good teachers here who do a superb job. And we have some absolutely useless teachers that should be immediately sacked before they damage generations of children. But such is the grip that the Teaching Unions hold over Education that the dismissal of bad teachers is almost impossible. This is profoundly depressing for good teachers, who see their mediocre colleagues being retained IN the class-room.  If teachers want to be seen as "professional" then they need to understand that one very basic element of being a professionalism is to accept the rewarding of ability and the punishment of  incompetence. Sadly, the Unions will ensure that at best, our teachers remain amateurs, insulated from reality and the professionalism they shout so much about.

Comments

[Human Animals]

A very good point David, and a perfect example of the public sector tolerating standards ranging from mediocre to grossly incompotent. Such dead wood would simply be jettisoned in the private sector, and whilst I'm certainly not suggesting that education be prvatised, there is a salutary lesson here for govt jobsworths everywhere.

[Monica-Philadelphia]

They always blame the parents.

[NRG]

I used to be a teacher, about 10% of the staff were brillaint and motivated, 50% were competent but a bit dull, 30% in a state of nervous exhaustion due to bad behaviour and "students rights" (ie the right to a qulaification withhout having to work or learn), and 10% throught they were being paid to engage in militiant socialism (that type did not give a damn about students).

I left because of all the form filling that got in the way of teaching. I miss the holidays and short hour though!