Seminar for Primary Teachers (Minority ethnic and language Children in Primary schools)

An audience of more than 50 guests comprising of primary teachers and College staff gathered in St Patrick's College on Monday 5th March for an Inservice seminar with Karl Kitching (Research assistant at St Patrick's College and PhD candidate) and Rory McDaid (Language support teacher and EdD candidate). The seminar 'Minority ethnic and language children in Irish Primary Schools: A practical vision for a better future' aimed to place current Irish policy and practice alongside international experiences of ethnic and linguistic diversity in education.  Practical suggestions for facilitating change were recommended by both  presenters. This included advice on teaching strategies in multilingual classrooms and ways of thinking about race, ethnicity and culture for the benefit of all students, their families and the school community. Feedback after the seminar suggested that it was a highly successful event which provoked a lot of thought and offered some very important advice to teachers. The presence and participation of  primary teachers and college staff was  welcomed and indeed much appreciated by Rory and Karl. The seminar revealed a palpable need to highlight the issues facing schools and teachers, and a need to focus on what teachers know already in terms of language teaching and best practice for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, social class, gender, and other identities. These issues will continue to be highlighted with in-service courses run by the presenters in the July and August and  a conference on ethnic and linguistic diversity on June 21st, 2007 in St. Patrick's College.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: Thursday March 08 2007