Soapbox: New primary school poll posits school reform - Waterford's views on the survey
Shoppers in Waterford's Culutral Quarter expressed their thoughts on the nation's primary education system.
By Tuesday, December 16, a potential 168,000 households will have submitted their responses to a new survey that seeks to gauge demand for changes to the primary education system.
Parents of children in primary education and parents of soon-to-be primary students have been emailed a short survey from the Department of Education.
The survey asks parents if they would prefer primary schools to be co-educational or single-sex; denominational or multi-denominational; and taught primarily through English or Irish.
Brenda and James Wright, Grantstown Park, began their primary education in the 1940s. Both encouraged the push for more schooling through the Irish language.
“It's an important part of the integrity of the Irish themselves,” James said. “The Irish culture and religion and ways must come first,” Brenda added.
James attended a single-sex grammar school in South London. He said single-sex schools still have a place in modern society.
“I think children ought to have more communion with their own sex at an early age. I think boys should be with boys and girls should be with girls until a certain age. For heaven's sake, we do grow up. I mean, it didn't put me off of girls.”
Inga Lektere has four children of primary-school age.
Originally from Latvia and now living in Waterford City, Lektere says her children enjoy the more relaxed style of education in Ireland and is content with the current system.
“Here is more like a little bit of fun for kids, more like games,” said Lektere.
“I didn't like school, I was a good student… my kids like here. There is homework, not too much. It's very simple for parents as well.”
Teresa Murphy worked as a maths teacher in an all-boys secondary school. She believes teaching through Irish should’ve been implemented “a long, long time ago”.
“The kids going into junior infants, the Irish language should be used in the classroom, very simple things so that it comes naturally, as opposed to thinking of verbs and their grammar.
