Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education

Choice is always good, right? In this part I try to convince you that when it comes to schools, it is the root of all that's wrong in the system. Furthermore, I try to prove to you that unless you tick the Catholic box in the census, it's unlikely you have choice anyway. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewi...

On 10th April 2022, The Forum for Patronage and Pluralism Report will be 10 years old. In the first of a short series of episodes analysing its failure, I look at the history of the Irish Education System and question perceived truths about why everyone is so keen to run schools. 🎙Listen and subscribe to this podcast on your favourite app here .  📌 Voted the best primary education podcast in the...

Part 2 of my recommendations from #BETT22. Some links to help: Original Blog Post COOL from Cloudwise ClassLink Tom Rogers Top Ten podcasts neal.fun FakeYou   Animated Drawings   Gaugan2   Reading on your Head Bookr Skewb Climate Impero This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

After a 10 year gap, I returned to the BETT conference and in this episode I explore some educational technology you might be interested in for your classroom or school. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

After Ruairi Quinn amalgamated the Teacher Training Colleges into a few different universities, most of them kept their “characteristic spirit” (generally a Catholic one) so Mary Immaculate remains Catholic despite being part of UL. However, there was one complication. The Church of Ireland college and St. Pat’s were to be merged into DCU (which is a secular university.) Common sense would suggest...

Yvonne Cassidy is the chair of the Irish Ethical Celebrants' Society. They are launching two new ceremonies for children aged 8 and 12, which coincide with the ages that Catholic children make the Communion and Confirmation. In this interview I explore why they decided to do this and whether it is an Irish solution to an Irish problem. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with o...

As thousands of Ukrainian families arrive in Ireland, I explore what they will need as they come to our schools. I discuss a number of issues including language and psychological supports but, also, other areas where there may be need. I also list some useful resources for teachers which are linked here: https://www.educatetogether.ie/app/uploads/2022/03/202203_Talking-about-Conflict-with-Young-Ch...

My frustration with reconfiguration is laid bare as the Department of Education does some shady dealings with the Catholic Church. In this episode I explain why parental choice is no more, and why the government is paying the Church compensation for not indoctrinating children. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sim...

In this final part, I explain what I would do if I had all the basics but also had some spare cash. I'm not going to lie...you'll be disappointed. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

So you have the basic foundations of technology in your school, what next? Instead of going through lots of complicated blossy brochures, follow my 3 step programme and you'll have your ICT plan in 2 minutes. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

The recent announcement of all remaining restrictions in schools this week has raised a number of questions about the education landscape post COVID19. What have we learned about the system during the pandemic? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

This part of the episode goes through the basic foundations that every school should have when it comes to technology.  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

In Part 2 of this episode, I chart the lost 20 years we had in Ireland from 1997 in terms of technology. Find out what the reason was, and no, you won't be surprised. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

Perhaps for the first time ever, Irish primary schools have some money to spend on edtech. In this 5 part episode, I go through a simple plan for integrating technology into education. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

The Department of Education are seeking submissions to improve the School Transport Service. By the end of this episode, I bet they'll be sorry they asked! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

In Part 2 of this episode, I explain why Catholic Schools' Week is like having a Men Only Golf Club then celebrating Men's Week during the year. By the end of the episode I have a depressing realisation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

It's Catholic Schools' Week in Ireland. In the first part of this 2-part episode, I examine why there's no need for this annual celebration. It is close to the bone but nothing should be free from scrutiny. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

Donagh O'Malley is often referred to as the greatest Minister of all time for introducing free second level education. Well, move over O'Malley, there's a new sheriff in the Ministirial chair! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

We are also always being told that schools are supposed to be centres of communities, especially in rural areas. If that’s the case, then it follows that services such as broadband would be centred around these places. So in this episode, if I were the MfE, I would be making broadband hubs around schools. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access...

It's Monday, 3rd January 2022. Schools are due to open in 3 days. There are over 20,000 cases of COVID19 per day going around. Shops are closing due to lack of staff. How are we going to reopen schools and keep them open? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

On New Year's Eve, Stephen Donnelly was interviewed on RTE Radio 1 about COVID19. The last 2 minutes of the interview focused on schools where he managed to say at least 6 things that simply weren't true. In this episode I dismantle the nonsense. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

As we come to the end of 2021, I continue my Advent Calendar of my favourite moments of 2021 in education. And no singing from me this time, I promise! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

In this special Christmas Special, I look back at our schools to find the highlights of the year where schools dominated the headlines - mainly in case there was a hint of them closing. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

Is all well with wellbeing in schools? In this chat, I discuss wellbeing with Audrey Bryan where we find out why there's such a buzz about wellbeing in schools and is it all it's cracked up to be? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe

The Children's Lives Matter Report was published a couple of weeks ago. It is the third report, so far, in the series, and is one of the only reports that truly delves into the world of schoolchildren in Ireland. I love these reports because they venture into areas that others don't and give some facsinating insights to the education system. Recently featured by Feedspot as the number 1 primary ed...