Comments for Kevin Farrell http://kevinfarrell.ie Green Party Local Area Representative Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:01:28 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Reverse Education Cuts NOW says Green Party Local Area Representative, Dr. Kevin Farrell by Kevin Farrell http://kevinfarrell.ie/reverse-education-cuts-now-says-green-party-local-area-representative-dr-kevin-farrell/comment-page-1#comment-32 Kevin Farrell Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:01:28 +0000 http://kevinfarrell.ie/?p=232#comment-32 Hi Andrew, Many thanks for leaving a comment and for your kind words. I think we agree on the sheer insanity of cutting education. We will never prosper as a nation if we continue to "de-grease" the engine that has the potential to create such prosperity. We should be doing the exact opposite. That's just the plain economics of it, never mind the ethics of treating the weakest in our society in such a fashion. In relation to my colleague, Paul Gogarty TD, I know from discussing the issue at length with him that he too is extremely frustrated with Fianna Fail's easy option of cutting education and other "social" areas rather than squeeze the wealthy bankers and property developers who continue to bank-roll them. I will continue to press the Green Party leadership to stand up to that delinquent behaviour of FF. Best wishes, Kevin. Hi Andrew,

Many thanks for leaving a comment and for your kind words. I think we agree on the sheer insanity of cutting education. We will never prosper as a nation if we continue to “de-grease” the engine that has the potential to create such prosperity. We should be doing the exact opposite. That’s just the plain economics of it, never mind the ethics of treating the weakest in our society in such a fashion.

In relation to my colleague, Paul Gogarty TD, I know from discussing the issue at length with him that he too is extremely frustrated with Fianna Fail’s easy option of cutting education and other “social” areas rather than squeeze the wealthy bankers and property developers who continue to bank-roll them. I will continue to press the Green Party leadership to stand up to that delinquent behaviour of FF.

Best wishes,

Kevin.

]]> Comment on Reverse Education Cuts NOW says Green Party Local Area Representative, Dr. Kevin Farrell by Andrew Purcell http://kevinfarrell.ie/reverse-education-cuts-now-says-green-party-local-area-representative-dr-kevin-farrell/comment-page-1#comment-30 Andrew Purcell Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:16:24 +0000 http://kevinfarrell.ie/?p=232#comment-30 Dear Dr. Farrell, As a normal secondary school teacher in your constituency in Lucan Community College, I applaud your stand on the severe education cutbacks. Unfortunately I believe that your point of view is falling on deaf ears, within both government parties. Within our college, there will be such hardship come the beginning of the next school year due to the disgraceful cuts in the 'book grant' and the Transition Year and LCA grants. Last week I unfortunately had to stand up in front of 140 parents of present 3rd years going into TY and LCA next year and tell them that the cost of taking these programmes in our school has to go up - in this uncertain time. We are losing 4 teachers from our school, so we have had to minimise our subject options. Apart from the income levy (which no teacher has complained about), the iniquitous and inequitable so-called pension levy (and whatever will come next week), the MOST FLAWED policy decision in this time is the "SAVING MEASURES ON PUBLIC SERVICE NUMBERS" in school. The moratorium on 'posts of responsibility' positions is simply going to devastate schools - teachers morale will sink to new low levels, there will be no take up on Principal or Deputy positions since the administration of any school will be near unmanageable - put simply - chaos will reign and we will be taking a huge step backwards. I really wish the 'shy school boy' ( and I believe Paul Gogarty T.D. to be a shining example of this description - after his great speech in the Dáil followed by his quick about turn and convictionless whimper) party of which you speak would quickly grow up and see the 'wood from the trees' so to speak. Our society will be in ruins - who cares just about the economy (apart from 'the bullies'!). I hope you do well in the local elections, I am sure that you would be made more than welcome in our school while canvassing, Andrew Purcell MEd, MA, HDipEd Dear Dr. Farrell,
As a normal secondary school teacher in your constituency in Lucan Community College, I applaud your stand on the severe education cutbacks. Unfortunately I believe that your point of view is falling on deaf ears, within both government parties. Within our college, there will be such hardship come the beginning of the next school year due to the disgraceful cuts in the ‘book grant’ and the Transition Year and LCA grants. Last week I unfortunately had to stand up in front of 140 parents of present 3rd years going into TY and LCA next year and tell them that the cost of taking these programmes in our school has to go up – in this uncertain time. We are losing 4 teachers from our school, so we have had to minimise our subject options. Apart from the income levy (which no teacher has complained about), the iniquitous and inequitable so-called pension levy (and whatever will come next week), the MOST FLAWED policy decision in this time is the “SAVING MEASURES ON PUBLIC SERVICE NUMBERS” in school. The moratorium on ‘posts of responsibility’ positions is simply going to devastate schools – teachers morale will sink to new low levels, there will be no take up on Principal or Deputy positions since the administration of any school will be near unmanageable – put simply – chaos will reign and we will be taking a huge step backwards.

I really wish the ’shy school boy’ ( and I believe Paul Gogarty T.D. to be a shining example of this description – after his great speech in the Dáil followed by his quick about turn and convictionless whimper) party of which you speak would quickly grow up and see the ‘wood from the trees’ so to speak. Our society will be in ruins – who cares just about the economy (apart from ‘the bullies’!).

I hope you do well in the local elections,
I am sure that you would be made more than welcome in our school while canvassing,
Andrew Purcell MEd, MA, HDipEd

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