As far as I know at the moment as long as you have any degree, not necessarily anything to do with teaching, you can substitute, my friends sister has a law degree but has been subbing as a teacher for a good while now, so I think that’s what they mean when they talk about unqualified

It means that there are hundreds of children being taught by people with no teaching qualifications, and some without any college degree at all. Most parents are unaware of this because the person has worked in the school for years and it’s just assumed that they are qualified.

I hope they include in their definition of unqualified all the retired teachers who are benefiting from handsome state pensions while still teaching as a substitute teacher. Sure they are probably the most qualified teachers but if they have choose to leave the profession and have taken their pension then they should not be allowed to earn anymore money as a teacher or block young qualified (and not yet qualified) teachers from being employed and from learning how to teach and perform in a school environment. Of course the job of a union never seems to focus on their future and recently enrolled members but rather on the protection of their established membership.

What experience have you og working in a classroom? I mran this quite seriously. It’s possible for a person to have great technical command of a subject without being able either to communicate that expertise or to control a class. You seem to assume that academic knowledge of a subject is all that a teacher requires. It’s necessary,but you also need to be able to communicate that knowledge.

Obviously spelling is not a prerequisite for teaching in your estimation. Yes academic knowledge and good interpersonal/communication skills . Some individuals can be trained in people skills as one would train a dog, doesn’t give them an automatic right to a teaching position. “Control a class” that exactly what I mean about these teaching qualifications, very little to do with education.

Rephrase that, would I let a qualified doctor operate on me? Not if he was some jumped up jerk straight out of medical school waving a copy of his CV demanding he be given a job because of his qualification. No I would ask for an experienced surgeon who had some demonstrable ability. On that matter there are many qualified doctors in the system in this country who are a danger to the public and ought not be in the positions they are, owing to our arcane medical education system and ridiculous admissions process that ensures vocational aptitude is not considered, however that’s another argument for another time.

And how is the ‘jumped up jerk’ going to get the experience you talk about if people are going to say no to them, nobody walks into a job on their 1st day and hey presto they’re fantastic at it, everyone needs time and experience, but as you said different argument different time

I do not understand the issue here there are people teaching kids possibly for many years, and the INTO members will suddenly refuse to work with them, treat them like scabs, outcasts until they’re forced into unemployment, so they can have their jobs. It doesn’t matter if they were a good teachers loved by their pupils it’s sayonara for them. If INTO were serious they’d be fighting like all unions ought to be in solidarity with one another against this financial tyranny that is being imposed upon us from europe, not getting into bed with government. Why are you not out striking on behalf of the special needs assistants?

Ive a beautiful bed side manner so clearly that trumps someone actually qualified to remove that appendix!

I don’t need a medical qualification to teach doctors biochemistry, I need a higher degree in biochemistry and an ability to communicate that knowledge in a class room environment. If you want to go to school to learn how to become a textbook jockey that’s your prerogative, don’t force the rest of us to endure such an indoctrination. Once upon a time nursing was a great profession; nurses learned on the job rather than in a classroom, knew more than most doctors, then they introduced nursing degrees – it all went down hill.

The irony is now they train doctors the way the used to train nurses, on the wards.

The irony is now they train doctors the way the used to train nurses.

Sorry,but this is drivel.
During the boom times the INTO constantly highlighted,in conjunction with parent associations,the vile conditions in many primary schools. Marches and demonstrations were organised. As regards performance,all teachers are subject to evaluation by the Inspectorate,and school reports are published.
Please take the trouble to learn something about a topic before you rant!

Yes Anonymous (not Barry, apologies, below) you “highlighted it”, did the INTO strike over our neglected, urine stinking, rat infested primary schools. No! why would they when they had a cosy partnership deal with Bertie and didn’t want to rock the boat. F the kids, now your jobs are under threat it’s a different story. Have any of you seen the new Docklands Convention Centre ? Wonder how many dilapidated school buildings that would have refurbished around the country, back in the day.

Obviously you weren’t awake for the last ten years. The into had a very long campaign for better smaller classes.
http://v9.lscache6.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id=e5ca5cc6caaa30c1&itag=7&begin=0&ratebypass=yes&title=INTO+demonstration+against+Education+cuts+%26+class+size+in+Ireland&ip=0.0.0.0&ipbits=0&expire=1303926787&sparams=ip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,ratebypass,title&signature=28B831D5AD6D45186C0B768EA1F148785426478E.318EBB0153FF76DC4B97A5ABD318A02B240C1BB6&key=ck1

Ok, bad choice of video, it was the first on google.
But: the ‘cuts’ didn’t mean teachers were being let go, it meant money for books, after school clubs, building improvement etc was being cut.
Larger classes don’t mean more work for teachers, it means less individual time for each child. If I had 20 children and I wanted to hear each one read for 5 mins it would take a week to a week and a half. With 30 each child will be heard once a fortnight at best.
Long story short, teachers have been campaigning for smaller classes for the best part of 10 years, to benefit the children. it’s not a case of teachers speaking out for the first time just because of job cuts, despite what people above are accusing.

Go rant somewhere else, you clearly have no idea what you are talking about. There were thousands of teachers out in the streets in 2008 demonstrating against large class sizes and the conditions I’d schools. Not pay!
http://v9.lscache6.googlevideo.com/videoplayback?id=e5ca5cc6caaa30c1&itag=7&begin=0&ratebypass=yes&title=INTO+demonstration+against+Education+cuts+%26+class+size+in+Ireland&ip=0.0.0.0&ipbits=0&expire=1303926787&sparams=ip,ipbits,expire,id,itag,ratebypass,title&signature=28B831D5AD6D45186C0B768EA1F148785426478E.318EBB0153FF76DC4B97A5ABD318A02B240C1BB6&key=ck1

Why should only striking be an issue? We organised our entire campaign focus from 2005 onwards towards improving classroom conditions! I’m not claiming to be Gandhi, but “stinking, urine-soaked, rat infested classrooms” are, surprisingly, as uncongenial to teachers as to pupils and parents.
The WSE reports can easily be accessed on http://www.education.gov.ie. All primary teachers must undergo a probationary years in which their classroom management, lesson preparation and teaching skills are evaluated by a DES inspector.
After that…do crap teachers still exist? Of course they do! BUT, as an principal, I can, after a series of verbal and written warnings, apply to the DES for a competence report on that teacher. If that teacher is deemed incompetent, they can be removed from the teaching register.
Not that much different from doctors or nurses then, is it? Or do you believe that you, personally, should be able to sack a teacher you’re displeased with?
As I’ve said previously to,Elpenor Dignam, if this comes up as “anonymous” please contact site admin. Or perhaps you’d rather sack him/her for incompetence too?