Jarlath Burns on GAA and Academic Selection

[oakleafgael]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

+1

Or pushing party policy.

[Orchardman]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

Very unlikely anyone in a grammar school would write that article, turkeys don't vote for xmas

[Minder]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

+1

Or pushing party policy.

Exactly, look who posted the article.

[Gaffer]

He was arguing that the Grammar schools were downgrading their entry levels just to fill their classrooms and hence keep their slice of the budget and teacher count irrespective if it was the right thing to do for the child.

Of course this is going on. This is probably not too bad in Newry which has a reasonably buoyant population, but it is very much the case with some Protestant grammars.

Grammar school teachers don't believe they should have to differentiate their lessons

That's the whole point of selection. People in the class have similar ability and so can proceed at maximum speed.

But they are not of similar ability.  Grammar schools are prepared to accept Cs and Ds just to fill their places. Therefore pupils with below average ability are sitting in classes with pupils of A grade standard.

[Line Ball]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

I think this is where the jealousy is coming from.  It's common knowledge that Jarlath Burns went for the principals job of St Colman's and didn't even get an interview and possibly even more than once.  I'd say it would be a different story coming from him if he was sitting as headmaster of St Colman's in the "beautiful college at the end of a sweeping avenue".

[pintsofguinness]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

I think this is where the jealousy is coming from.  It's common knowledge that Jarlath Burns went for the principals job of St Colman's and didn't even get an interview and possibly even more than once.  I'd say it would be a different story coming from him if he was sitting as headmaster of St Colman's in the "beautiful college at the end of a sweeping avenue".

What the actual f**k?!

[Line Ball]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

I think this is where the jealousy is coming from.  It's common knowledge that Jarlath Burns went for the principals job of St Colman's and didn't even get an interview and possibly even more than once.  I'd say it would be a different story coming from him if he was sitting as headmaster of St Colman's in the "beautiful college at the end of a sweeping avenue".

What the actual f**k?!

Did I touch a nerve there?

[pintsofguinness]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

I think this is where the jealousy is coming from.  It's common knowledge that Jarlath Burns went for the principals job of St Colman's and didn't even get an interview and possibly even more than once.  I'd say it would be a different story coming from him if he was sitting as headmaster of St Colman's in the "beautiful college at the end of a sweeping avenue".

What the actual f**k?!

Did I touch a nerve there?

I just think that's a bizarre comment, on so many different levels.

[Line Ball]

If he was Head or Deputy Head in a grammar school he wouldnt have written that article. Big chip on his shoulder in my opinion.

I think this is where the jealousy is coming from.  It's common knowledge that Jarlath Burns went for the principals job of St Colman's and didn't even get an interview and possibly even more than once.  I'd say it would be a different story coming from him if he was sitting as headmaster of St Colman's in the "beautiful college at the end of a sweeping avenue".

What the actual f**k?!

Did I touch a nerve there?

I just think that's a bizarre comment, on so many different levels.

Don't know how you work that one out.  On one hand the man slates academic selection and the "utter arrogance of this sector" yet on the other hand he is a wannabe principal of a Grammar school, where if he had been good enough he would have got it.  I doubt we would be having this discussion now if he had.

[Gaffer]

But maybe if he had got the job he would have moved to end selection for it.

[armaghniac]

But maybe if he had got the job he would have moved to end selection for it.

He wouldn't have got the job with that manifesto. But he wouldn't be the first politician to do a U turn.

[Ulick]

When you can't defeat the argument, attack the man

[ONeill]

The best teachers teach in Grammar schools.

[trileacman]

So you can pick the best players for a football team but schools can't pick the best students for education?

[ONeill]

The best teachers teach in Grammar schools.

The best teachers teach in every school.

The most academically adept teachers teach in grammars. Secondary schools would take on anyone in that regard. Secondary schools have the best pastoral and discipline specialists. Sweeping but an opinion.