New Executive... New Challenges...

Yes we are three years in existence. Who could have predicted that we would have not only survived but have indeed thrived in this time. The report I gave to the AGM is repeated inside so there is no need to repeat the issues raised there in terms of where we have come from, rather now the question must be what can be achieved in the coming three years. The key questions we have to ask as an association are:

• what is our role in Irish education    today? 
• what values drive our contribution?
• what is our plan to meet the needs identified? 
• what specific actions can we take to move our plans forward?

The core of the above is about clearly identifying our role - not attempting to go in numerous directions and thus lessening our impact. Our resources are limited as a charitable Organisation run by a voluntary set of people who have full time jobs, therefore we need to target our energies carefully to the areas of most need. The new executive is having a series of meetings to outline its plan of work. This will culminate in a weekend together in February.

What is our role in Irish Education?

Finding our role is intimately linked to the key issue of needs being identified - early school leavers; the status of the teaching profession; market values v people values - the dialogue; resources for schools; developing partnership in school communities  .... the list goes on.

 Where does iapce fit in this picture? We have been about making accessible the pastoral approach - that care for the person in education enhances the quality of experience for all in the school community. We cannot shirk our core value of looking to the dignity of each person in the school. This will require us to challenge values, policies, structures and practices that do not enhance the person - student, teacher, parent, principal.

Our challenge has always sought to be constructive - for example we challenged the notion of disciplinarian view of Year Head by providing a range of resources to enable teachers easily adopt a more effective and enhancing approach. Therefore fundamentally our role is to both challenge and offer a viable alternative in the areas we target.

The Disaffected Student.

A lovely autumn day in Maynooth with the Virginia creeper in all its autumnal glory was the setting for our most recent conference.The two hundred teachers who attended our conference last November were clearly challenged regarding our collective response to the disaffected student. The speakers Richard Bruton, Peter McVerry, Concepta Conaty and the team led by Scott Boldt provided us with many avenues for reflection. The response is at a variety of levels - systemic, local and individual.While it is more comfortable to wrestle with the local and systemic concerns, there is no escaping the necessity to look at our own personal attitudes to the issues involved with the disaffected student. Teachers present at the conference voiced their frustrations, hopes and fears.

iapce will further the debate around this major concern in Irish education through a publication drawing on, but not only consisting of, contributions at the conference. This is another example of how we address a concern - how can you become more involved as we move forward?

Your Voice - Our Challenge.

If you have confidence in the approach iapce is taking we ask you to go further than just read this newsletter - become involved in our work, make your contribution and allow others benefit. Of course you don't have the time or the energy - which of us involved has! Go for it anyway and together we can continue to shape the future of education in this country.

Phone, write, fax, e-mail - which ever method suits - just get in touch with us!

Luke Monahan

National Co-ordinator