Come and talk to me about Ireland ...

[Yulephemia]

DH is thinking of a move to Dublin. Can anyone tell me about the Irish School system, compared to Scotland?

I heard a brilliant description of multi-d schools - 'full of hippies on bicycles'! That makes them sound quite fun - we didn't have a local one when we needed a primary school. I'd have thought the white, Catholic middle class tend towards Gaelscoil , or is that only where I live? (Although I do know a woman who is into Wicca whose child was there, and she isn't standard middle class, more of a cycling hippy - so stereotypes don't work!)

well i'm a pierced tattooed hippy type and mine go to a tiny village RC school and i'm on the PTA so stereotypes really don't work out here in the sticks

only that I was making my (admittedly very specific) case for embracing the middle-class bias of Educate Together, even though I would prefer a more socially inclusive school. But I don't want a Catholic school (for reasons stated and many others), nor do I want a single sex school, and many of the ones around here are (for infants )

I was in a pup in London recently when two people asked me why do they teach Irish in Ireland when it is not spoken anywhere. Exactly I said, why?

It drove me bonkers for years. Back then it was very politicial and taught with a zeal best left for warfare.

Can't say it enough - the Irish system is waaaay tooooo broad. You do toooo many subjects and are never given the chance to delve deeper into something you love or have a skill at. Lots of skill and talent sacrificed at the alter of the Irish language and Religion

I am RC, dh is not. Our dd is CofI and is attending local primary (west of Ireland). She is blessing herself with great zeal . I'm a former teacher and university tutor who still works in education. Substitute work is or was easily available in Dublin, recession and tighter controls on subs have shrunk the numbers a little methinks. I was fortunate to get an excellent primary education but religion is a big part.If you have a dynamic principal, everyone benefits.

I like the way many people keep a European language on for leaving Cert (as so many third level courses demand it), I'd like to see the new maths syllabus work (as it is compulsory, too). How many subjects do Scottish teenagers take in highers?

But what if languages are not your thing. Years of having Irish beaten into you turned me off all languages. Fear not beating is not allowed now.

Ds finally accepted that learning French was a fairly good idea and managed that, he did a bit of work in Irish but it was far from his thing. After 14 years he is unable to have a basic conversation. His points were discounted for college entry (your worst subject isn't counted). He was best at Economics, Business and Geography, did a more hands on business course (LCVP), and also did maths and English - mostly useful subjects really. My dd1 is doing Irish, French, Geography and English in her mix - so I can appreciate the hardships of language learning for nonlingists as opposed to linguists!