Leadership+ Issue 08 December 2001

Irish Primary Principals’ Network

Líonra Príomhoidí Bunscoile Éireann

December 2001 A Phríomhoide agus a Oide Thánaisteach, Approaching Christmas is a very enjoyable time of year but also extremely busy with so much packed into the last few days of term. Our Newsletter will give you an overview of what has been happening with IPPN since October and, hopefully, prompt you to take 10 minutes rest while you read and reflect on its contents.

Many thanks for completing the Hay Questionnaire and I hope the reflective process required was beneficial in its own right. A special thanks also to all those who have volunteered to mentor newly appointed principals. Mo mhíle buíochais freisin to chuile dhuine a chabhraigh linn le cruinnithe timpeall na tíre. Ag taisteal ó chontae go contae, is léir go bhfuil fuinneamh agus spiorad iontach le feiscint pé áit go bhfuil príomhoidí ‘networking’ le chéile.

Nollaig faoi shéan agus faoi mhaise, Seán Cottrell IN THIS ISSUE • BENCHMARKING • THE VALUE OF LEADERSHIP • SUPERVISION • • LEGAL DIARY - DISCIPLINE • • EURO CHANGEOVER • • SCHOOL ACCOUNTS • • CONFERENCE 2002 • • REGIONAL MEETINGS • IRISH PRIMARY PRINCIPALS’ NETWORK, GLOUNTHAUNE, CORK.

Issue 8 BENCHMARKING

Earlier this year, IPPN established an executive sub-committee to research the Role of Principal in relation to the benchmarking process.

On Monday, 26th November 2001, representatives of IPPN met with John Carr, Gen. Sec., Joan Ward, President, other INTO officers and officials to discuss a wide range of issues including benchmarking. Whilst we did not reach agreement on all aspects of this matter the meeting was extremely positive and indicative of the commitment in both organisations to co-operate in the best interest of principals.

Following the meeting, the INTO requested the use of IPPN’s research document on benchmarking for principals to further enhance and strengthen their submission to the benchmarking body.

This research has been presented as a position paper entitled ‘The Value of Leadership?’ and will be circulated to all principals in 2002. The IPPN National Committee is pleased to have this opportunity to support the INTO in their negotiations Pat Maher of Tipperary and Pat Kavanagh, and representation of Wexford, prior to the recent INTO/IPPN principals to the Public meeting on Benchmarking Service Benchmarking Body (PSBB). Principals throughout Ireland feel very strongly that benchmarking must deliver a radically improved salary commensurate with our leadership/management role. Such a salary structure must reflect not only the vast increase in workload undertaken gradually over the last 15-20 years but, more importantly, the level of legal responsibility and range of accountabilities that principals carry in what has become a very multi-skilled and complex role.

It is vital to the future of the teaching profession that Principalship becomes a more attractive position for younger teachers. Serving the needs of leadership at this time of great change will actually stand to the long-term benefit of the entire teaching profession.

While IPPN clearly does not have a remit for Industrial Relations matters, we have exercised our right to communicate a strong sense of expectancy that our union must deliver through benchmarking. IPPN support for the INTO in this regard is unequivocal.

However, principals feel strongly that their role has been allowed to fall victim to chronic overload and added responsibility without corresponding reward.

The benchmarking process must provide evidence that those days are over!

Supervision Many principals have been in contact with the IPPN in relation to the proposed changes to supervision procedures in schools. The IPPN National Committee welcomes the payment for supervision as an important step in recognising both the responsibility and workload teachers have undertaken for many years without payment. There are however, some key concerns which are linked with the possibility that some teachers will decide to opt out of responsibility for supervision as an alternative to receiving payment.

Three key concerns have arisen: Implications for the whole school approach to supervision, discipline and behaviour management.

Following many decades of effort to achieve a whole-school approach to the implementation of policy on pupil behaviour, management and discipline, many principals are concerned that the fragmentation of supervision in school may lead to an erosion of the sense of collective responsibility for and commitment to policy implementation.

Opt out clause is the problem.

Where some members of staff choose to opt out, this may lead to instances of tension and conflict between staff members where there are differing views on the level of responsibility teachers have for the children re. supervision, safety, behavioural and discipline issues that arise at breaktimes. IPPN is committed to the building of positive staff relations and any changes which may lead to a disimprovement in staff relations, albeit in a very small number of schools, should be avoided.

The organisation of the scheme will create extra work for principals.

Whilst most of the focus so far has been on the additional administration of this project, both in terms of payment to teachers and payment to an non-teacher supervisors, this in fact, is not the real problem.

Even where a BoM treasurer, the Deputy Principal or other post holder undertakes the administration of payments, the real workload comes with the implementation and management of the new scheme. The recruitment, screening, training, monitoring and problem solving that goes with involving non-teacher supervisors will inevitably come back on the principal teacher. Saying otherwise is simply to disregard the reality of school management.

IPPN has spoken with CPSMA, the DES and the INTO on this matter and strongly urges that common sense prevails in the implementation of supervision arrangements to ensure that we go forward with the same sense of collective responsibility for supervision.

Virginia O’Mahony, Galway (Deputy President) & Susan Doody, Dublin (Treasurer) prior to the recent IPPN meeting with Sr. Eileen Randles, C.P.S.M.A.

IPPN MEMBERSHIP IPPN receives on average 5-10 calls per day for membership application forms. Forms are available from www.ippn.ie Please note: Membership Application Forms are mailed to: “The Treasurer”, IPPN, Glounthaune, Co. Cork.

MEMBERS NEWS The following Regional Meetings have taken place.

1 IPPN - Wicklow - Tuesday 13th November at 8pm in Ashford House, Ashford, Co. Wicklow.

2 IPPN - Meath - Wednesday 14th November at 7.30pm in Navan Education Centre, Navan, Co. Meath.

3 IPPN - Louth - Tuesday 20th November at 7.30pm in the Fairways Hotel, Dundalk, Co. Louth.

4 IPPN - Dublin - Thursday 22nd November at 7.45pm in the Spa Hotel, Lucan. Monday 3rd December at 7.45pm in the Drumcondra Education Centre.

5 IPPN - Cork - Wednesday 28th November at 7.45pm in the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork.

6 To come: IPPN - Leitrim in January 2002.

7 To come: IPPN - Kilkenny in January 2002.

POLICY DOCUMENT SPECIAL NEEDS With the support of IPPN a sub-committee is being formed to put together a policy document for Special Needs in the primary school. It is hoped to put together a framework document to help schools formulate a policy tailored to a school’s individual needs. To this end, I invite you to forward to me any ideas, suggestions or policies which may assist the sub-committee in this work. It is hoped to include the roles of the principal, mainstream class teachers, learning support teacher, resource teacher and special needs assistant in developing a whole school special needs policy.

Angela Lynch, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Glasheen Road, Cork. 021 4542294.

SCHOOL RECORDS From networking@ippn.ie I’ve been told that school records of children must be kept until they have reached the age of 21 years, which is fine, as far as it goes. But where does one store all this material? We are strongly thinking of investing in the purchase of ‘Childcheck’, as per ad in issue No. 7 of IPPN. However, this still leaves us with the problem of what to do with all the records in booklet form, of ex students.

We’ll be snowed under with paper records soon. Has anybody devised a programme for storing contents of same, or am I back to the old archive box system, which is currently in operation here? Any solutions out there?

IPPN DONEGAL At present there are five support groups active in Donegal.

The North West IPPN support group has been meeting on the first Wednesday of every month in Ostán Loch Altan in Gortahork. The North West is organised by Simon McGinley, Scoil na Croise Naofa, Dúnfionnachaidh.

The Inishowen group organiser is Oliver Gilmore, St. Patrick’s N.S., Rashinney and they meet in the Strand Hotel in Ballyliffen.

The East support group organiser is Nora Flynn, Little Angels School, Letterkenny and they meet in the Mount Errigal Hotel.

The South organiser is Pauline McHale, Scoil Chaitriona, Ballyshannon and the South West organiser is Paddy McDwyer, Scoil Mhuire, Glenties.

With the assistance of the Donegal Education Centre, we held our first OPPN Donegal County Regional Meeting in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey on Friday 7th December with the main speaker being Mr. Oliver Mahon, N.T., M.A., H. Dip., L.L. B. from Galway with the topic ‘The New Education Act, Pupils Injuries’.

SCHOOL ACCOUNTS - EURO CHANGEOVER Because transactions in cash are going to be in both euro and punts for the first few weeks of the next term, there is great potential for confusion. Schools do not have the personnel, or indeed the resources, to put systems in place to manage a dual currency even for a short period of time. To avoid unnecessary difficulties it may be advisable to inform parents and children before the Christmas holidays that only euro cheques, notes and coins will be acceptable in the school in the New Year. Most families will appreciate the need for schools to have a ‘clean’ changeover.

The more important and indeed more challenging aspect of this euro changeover will apply to school accounts. School accounts at the end of the academic year 2001-2002 will have to be presented in a single currency. Whilst some schools are planning to produce an interim set of final accounts for the 31st December 2001 in punts, and then commence a new set of accounts from January to August 2002, the following alternative may be less labour intensive and a more practical solution.

Following consultation with a number of principals and accountants experienced in school finances, IPPN recommends the following practice: 1.

Make a copy of the existing accounts (income and expenditure) from 1st Sept, 2001 to 31 Dec, 2001.

2.

Delete all figures from the copy (photocopy or computer file copy).

3.

Working from the original and using a punt-to-euro converter calculator, change all figures to euro amounts and insert same beside the appropriate entries, headings etc.

4.

Whilst keeping the original version of the accounts showing amounts in punts (as a record), all totals and balances should then ‘roll over’ to January 2002 in euro amounts, facilitating a single set of accounts for the entire financial year 1/9/01 to 31/8/02 to be shown only in euros.

Thurs. 7th February Fri. 8th February

Sat. 9th February

IPPN CONFERENCE 2002 DRAFT PROGRAMME “Leadership in Review” - Mr. Jim Hayes, President IPPN. “Principalship for the Future” - Gearóid Uas Ó Conluain, Deputy Chief Inspector, DES. President’s Reception.

Official opening by Mr. John Dennehy, Secretary General, Dept. of Education & Science.

Keynote Address - “Challenges for Educational Leaders in the 21st Century” - Dr. E. Walsh, President Emeritus, University of Limerick.

“School Leadership, Roles, Rights and Responsibilities” - Mr. S. Cottrell, IPPN National Director.

“The Role of Principal - What the Legislation Means” - Mr. T. Boland, Principal, Legal Services, DES. “21st Century Principals - 21st Century Skills” - Mr. Ml. Farrell, UCC. “Principals & Boards of Management - A Vision for the Future” - Sr. E. Randles, Gen. Sec., CPSMA. “The Role of Principal - An Independent Analysis” - Mr. Frank Hartle, Educational Consultant, Hay Group.

“Principalship for the Future - The INTO Perspective” - Mr. John Carr, Gen. Sec. Designate, INTO. “Questions & Answers” - Chaired by Ms. Teri Garvey, RTE .

LEGAL DIARY BY DAVID RUDDY B. ED., DIP. LAW, B.L. - “THE DISCIPLINE CHRONOLOGY” 1982 – CORPORAL PUNISHMENT ABOLISHED 1988 – CIRCULAR 7/88 Amends rule 130 of the Rules for National Schools. This provides for Codes of Discipline to include suspension and expulsion. Expulsion is only allowed with the consent of the patron and after the pupil has been placed in another school (Rule 130 (6)).

1991 – MURTAGH V B.O.M. OF ST. EMERS N.S. The parents of a pupil who received a 3 day suspension challenge the decision of the Board firstly in the High Court and later on appeal to the Supreme Court. It was held that the enforcement of discipline in a National School is a matter for the teachers, the principal teacher, Chairperson of the B.O.M. and the Board itself. It is not a matter for the courts no more than asking the courts to adjudicate on ordering of a pupil to write out lines. Disciplinary matters would only be reviewed by the courts on the grounds of fairness.

1997 – NON FATAL OFFENCES AGAINST THE PERSON ACT Teachers can now be prosecuted by the Gardai for physical chastisement of pupils. A principal teacher is prosecuted and convicted under this act. A fine of £50 imposed.

1998 – EDUCATION ACT SECTION 29 The parents of a pupil who is suspended may appeal such a suspension. If unhappy with the decision of the Board the parent can invoke Section 29 and appeal to the Department of Education and Science. The effect of S.29 will be to remove the temptation of parents to seek redress in matters such as suspension in the courts. If parents are unhappy with the results of S.29 they could apply to have the matter received by the courts on the grounds of fairness only.

Section 29 is one of the most important provisions of the 1998 Act. Its success is dependant on the provision of support services such as learning support, resource teachers and special needs assistants. Even if pupils constitute a danger to their peers and teachers in the mainstream school they still have a constitutional right to have their education needs accommodated elsewhere.

2000 – EDUCATION WELFARE ACT S.23 states that Boards of Management must have a code of Discipline to include standards of behaviour, sanctions, procedures for suspension / expulsion. The National Educational Welfare Board can issue guidelines to schools on codes of behaviour. Parents can be asked to sign a code of discipline as a condition of registration. S.24 deals with expulsion – if in the event of a pupil being expelled, the BOM must give prior notice to the Educational Welfare Officer of the BOM decision and the reasons why such a decision was made.

NOVEMBER 2001 One of the first decisions under a Section 29 appeal has been given. The appeal was taken by the parents of a child who was refused enrolment by the Board of Management of a primary school. The school was located in Letterkenny Co. Donegal. This is one of the fastest growing towns in the country with a resulting pressure on schools to accommodate pupils. The appeals committee held in favour of the school but in doing so made recommendations regarding admission policy to the Board of Management.

RETIREMENT, HOW ARE YOU? BY SEAN NYHAN FORMER PRINCIPAL, ST OLIVER PLUNKETTS N.S., CLONMEL. I am retired now as a Primary Teacher for four years. I had no trouble making up my mind when I would retire. I just received a charming letter from the Department of Education informing me that as I had reached the age of 65 years my services were no longer needed. They thanked me for my 45 years teaching, the final 15 in administration of a very large school with a wonderful staff, and wished me a happy retirement.

Retirement, how are you? Maybe the Department didn’t need my services but half the schools in South Tipperary did. I have spent the last four years sub teaching in numerous locations making hundreds of new friends amongst teachers, parents and pupils. During this current year I am Mayor of Clonmel so my time is completely occupied.

I feel that in general there are two main approaches to retirement. There are those who constantly long for the day to come to put their feet up, smell the roses and throw away their time-pieces. They avail of every course available to prepare for this time of life, an on-going holiday. But George Bernard Shaw once remarked that “A perpetual holiday is a good definition of hell”. Boredom often sets in and they soon realise that “Retired is being tired twice – first tired of working, then tired of not”.

The second category of people are those who dread the approach of retirement. They waste their energy needlessly plotting and planning to ensure various activities for the years ahead. They forget the old proverb, which reminds us “Very often, men make plans and God smiles”. Maurice Chevalier described it very well when he wrote “Growing old isn’t so bad when you consider the alternative”.

In my own case I hope I have charted a course in between the two mentioned. I looked on retirement as another on-going stage of my life and I entered into it just as if I were changing from one job to another. Cardinal Spellman once wrote that there are three ages of man: - “Youth, Age and You’re looking wonderful.” I’m at the “looking wonderful stage” and thank God enjoying every minute of it. I do admit that retirement is the time when you never do all the things you intended to do when you’d have the time. Obviously urgency takes second place in any given day and this surely is not a bad idea. The clock was master long enough.

Finally I try to copy my philosophy from a philosopher named Henri Amiel who wrote nearly two hundred years ago that “To know how to grow old is the master work of wisdom, and one of the most difficult chapters in the great art of living”. Really there is nothing new under the sun”.

A LETTER FROM ART Ó SÚILLEABHÁIN, P.O. (M.ED. ICT IN EDUCATION) It’s been two years, going on three, since I’ve left the post of Príomh Oide in Carnacon N.S. in Mayo, to take up a seconded post as ICT Advisor with Mayo Education Centre. It has been great and it has been terrible. I have suffered withdrawal symptoms after twenty years as a teaching principal. I have missed the children, their innocence and their wisdom and the flash of something in their eyes when some new project has suddenly appealed or taken root or has just caught their imagination. But I have also enjoyed the challenges of being the one who has been allowed to re-experience that sense of wonder for myself. The particular position of ICT Advisor has allowed me the freedom to experiment with new technology, to develop new projects, to explore new ideas and probably best of all, to be of some assistance (I hope), to classroom teachers in their struggle to assimilate ICT into an already burgeoning curriculum.

The hours are definitely longer, the holidays shorter, the pay the same (this needs serious attention), but I feel that I am being re-vitalised as an educator. This is as much a compliment to the Director and staff in the Mayo Education Centre, as it is to the DES who have established such long needed resources in education, and to the BOM and parents in Carnacon for their goodwill. Yes! I am enjoying my secondment. I feel that others are reaping some benefit from my experience and skills. There are serious issues of tenure, salary, continuity and practise that need evaluating but Oh! enough for now!

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT/LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME Congratulations to: Colm Cregan, Principal, St. John’s Girls’ School, Limerick City Paddy Flood, Principal, Edenmore National School, County Monaghan Shay Bannon, Principal, Ardscoil na mBráithre, Clonmel and Eileen O’Connor, Deputy Principal, Greendale Community School, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5, who have recently been appointed by the DES to research, design and develop the School Management & Leadership Programme which will be put in place at some stage in the future for all principals and deputy principals. Both Colm and Paddy are members of our National Committee and have been instrumental in the establishment and development of IPPN nationally.

This new programme, which IPPN has lobbied for since 1994, finally recognises the unique nature of the role of principal teacher and the need for professional development which focuses on the management and leadership aspects of this role. We are delighted that deputy principals will also be included in this programme and it will surely bring a new significance and level of understanding to what effective deputy principalship can bring to a school.

Ms. Maura Clancy, Assistant Chief Inspector, Mr. Vincent Wrynne, Principal Officer, ICDU, and Dr. Kieran Kelleher, Director of Clare Education Centre are to be congratulated on their persistence in bringing the school Management Leadership Development Programme to this starting point.

We promise Colm, Paddy and their second level counterparts Shay and Eileen our support and best wishes as they undertake this onerous task.

REGIONAL MEETINGS Offaly: 16th October, Bridge House Hotel. Presentation by Sean Cottrell. Virgina O’Mahony, Deputy President was also in attendance. Very enthusiastic welcome extended to Sean by over 20 principals.

Wide ranging discussion on issues of concern to principals particularly the management of release days for teaching principals. 3 support groups formed in Birr, Edenderry and Tullamore.

Laois: 17th October, Killeshin Hotel. Attended by up to 25 principals, co-ordinated by National Committee member John Morrell. Excellent informed discussion. 3 support groups formed which will be based in Portlaoise, Abbeyleix and Mountmellick.

Laois Meeting: Sean Cottrell, Michael Martin, Roscommon: 23rd October, Castlerea. 15 John Cotter and John Morrell principals from the county attended. Issues of primary concern for those in attendance were pay and conditions and special needs management. Support groups in Roscommon town, Boyle and Castlerea were formed.

Longford: 24th October, Edgeworthstown. Very lively meeting attended by up to 20 principals. Well informed views were exchanged dealing with the newly announced Building Section cut backs in the DES, organisation of support groups and IT. One support group for the county was organised for Longford town.

Meeting of all Principals in Leitrim: A meeting of all principals in Leitrim will be held in The Education Centre, Carrickon-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, on Thursday, Jan. 24th, at 8.00p.m. The purpose of this meeting will be to inform principals of the role of IPPN and the support which it can offer principals and deputy principals. Invitations will be forwarded to all principals in Leitrim in early January. It is intended that a region of IPPN will be set up in Leitrim as a result of this meeting. Please attend! For further information contact: Caroline Healy, 078 20285 (W).

IPPN Kilkenny and IPPN Leitrim Regional meetings have now been held in each county except Leitrim and Kilkenny. The launch of IPPN Kilkenny and IPPN Leitrim (see page 7) will take place in January 2002. Principals and Deputy Principals will receive letters of invitation from their local Education centre and the notice will also be placed on networking@ippn.ie.

Dublin Principals’ Support Groups Some 12 years ago the initial support group met in Dublin West Education Centre. Meetings were held monthly. Educational topics, policies and problems were discussed, researched and explored. Interest in the group’s work spread and now there are 50 in three o-ordinated groups, meeting regularly in the Centre, supporting and helping each other.

School Accounts Software Package A sub-committee of IPPN (coordinated by Donal Kerins, Rushebrooke NS, Co. Cork), is currently well advanced in the design of a comprehensive and user friendly programme for primary school accounts. This programme is being developed in collaboration with the DES and Management Bodies. Currently at pilot stage, the programme is due for completion and distribution (free of charge) in February 2002.

Principals’ Mailing List networking @ippn.ie The success of this mailing list has been amazing in such a short length of time. Principals are posing problems and solutions as well as sharing general bright ideas and all with the ease of e-mail. You can join this mailing list, if you haven’t already done so, by following the on-screen instructions in the mailing list section of www.ippn.ie

IPPN Networking How do I contribute to the mailing list?

1 Go to IPPN website www.ippn.ie 2 Click subscribe and fill in email address 3 Once you are subscribed, you click reply in your email software (to any IPPN networking email) and this will send your email to the mailing list, to be distributed to all members.

4 Or send an email directly to networking@ippn.ie

IPPN Limerick IPPN Limerick’s two recent nights at the Southcourt Hotel dealt with public relations with Cathy O’Halloran of RTE (3rd December) and everything you wanted to know about being a principal but were afraid to ask (10th December) - a question and answer session with a panel.

We hope to organise a workshop session early in the new year dealing with potential problems and solutions regarding the new supervision arrangements.

www.ippn.ie IPPN’s website has been a tremendous resource to principals and deputies over the last number of months. However the potential of this form of support and resource provision is only at an experimental stage. Peter Long, Principal, Scoil Íde, Corbally, Limerick has agreed to undertake an editorial role over the website from the point of view of content.

IPPN urges all principal teachers to contribute to our resource bank. Please help by: Selecting any curricular or organisational policy documents or other useful templates which you have developed for your own school and forward webeditor@ippn.ie Ensuring that any identifying remarks or names are removed from your policy document A disclaimer on the IPPN website suggests that principals use these documents purely for discussion and as a scaffolding to construct a school’s own policy document.

www.ippn.ie Why haven’t we thought of this before? This was the comment made by a principal who telephoned a few days ago to thank the contributer of the wonderful Revised English Curriculum policy document which she downloaded from the website. Great credit is due those who have contributed sample policies and documents from their own schools for our online resources section in this website.

Please forward your own curriculum/ organisational documents to director@ippn.ie and they will be considered for uploading to the website, without school identifying details of course!