St Johns National school joins day x stoppage

by conor (wsm personal) Fri Mar 21, 2003 15:51

good work - here's a link to all the reported walkouts so far - has annyone any more put them up !

Conor

http://www.indymedia.ie/cgi-bin/newswire.cgi?id=35977&start=90

by Max Sun Mar 23, 2003 06:09 maxdempsey at hotmail dot com

It was my understanding schools were supposed to be a-political and surely young children (4,5,6,7 year olds) couldn’t conceivably be in a position to evaluate the complex issues surrounding the Iraqi situation then decide for themselves whether or not to engage in a political protest – it follows then that they were clearly following the instructions of teachers who have their own views on the issue and who used those children as an instrument to promote their own polices on the matter.

The Teachers at the school committed form of Child abuse.

by conor (wsm personal) Mon Mar 24, 2003 13:38

Just in response to the utterly bizare mail from Max - at our school 8 STAFF walked out and there was a minutes silence folowed by discussion for 10 minutes - obviously this was full, free and open - many secondary school students have STRONG views on the war both for and against. No students walked out noo one was forced to walk out - in fact they were made to stay in by the pricipal (which I disagree with persoanlly!)

Several of the students from Monkstown organised THEIR OWN contingent to the February 15th demo with out any help or prompting! Maxs rant is bizarre and quite insulting to both students and teachers in my view.

Conor

by Max Fri Mar 28, 2003 02:17

Hi Conor,

Thanks for responding to my point, others have chosen to ignore it, I've no problem with teachers (or anyone for that matter) walking out to protest the war - whatever and indeed as someone with a keen interest in politics I welcome ANY involvement of young people in the political process.

However my point related to a School in Ballybrack where every child was taken out of the school and brought into a yard - the children's right to independent politial thought was voiliated - not that one could really expect a clild of 4,5,6 to have any real views on this issue - the UNN Charter is clear on the matter.
The Teachers in St Johns National School acted in an awful mannor - teh ABUSED the RIGHTS of CHILDREN - perhaps they would be better suited working for Dick Cheaney!

by Max Fri Mar 28, 2003 02:24

Excuse me, I was incorrect to say "not that one could really expect a clild of 4,5,6 to have any real views on this issue" the views of any individual must be regarded with the utmost respect, I meant - it would be most unusual for children so young to have any political policy on the issue - I take it as a given that the children would have an understanding that a war was happening, and I'm sure they as well as most others would be against it. However this is clearly different to the political issues that surround the attacks on Government offices etc...

by Ex- Pupil Kevin - Graduate of St. Johns Fri Dec 26, 2008 03:53 segrave at vodafone dot ie

I find it beyond comprehension that anyone who might actually teach at, or have taught at, St. Johns NS would be permitted to place grammarless writings on this site. Fire them,I say,and hire teachers who can write in English -which involves using capital letters to start a sentence,as I was taught at St Johns over thirty-six years ago.