Blog Action Day - Water

Here are some facts from the Self Help Africa booklet on Water.

The Bigger Picture:
The amount of water in the world has not changed but due to pollution the quantity available has reduced by 30% since 1970.

In the meantime the numbers using the worlds water has increased dramatically. In the year 2000 the figure passed 6 billion – by the year 2050 the projected figure is 9 billion.

Today, more than 10 conflicts in the world are linked to water in Turkey, India, Egypt, Israel and other countries.

In the Antarctic an ice shelf (the size of Luxembourg) called the Larsen B came adrift from the mainland. It had been there for the last 12,000 years and it disintergrated over a period of 35 days.

If ice caps continue to melt at their present rate then within 10 years 17% of the land of Bangladesh will be under water, displacing 27 million people and the area of land available to produce food to feed a growing population will be further under threat.

In the developed industrialised countries of the world 60-80% of the water is used in industry.
In developing countries only 10% is used in industry.

1,000 litres of water are used in the making of 1 car.
9 litres of water are used in the making of 1 bar of chocolate.

Within 10 years 1 billion people could be given access to clean, safe water for less than the world now spends on weapons in 90 hours.

So these facts may have given you something to think about.....
How important is water to us?
How well do we use it?
How can we protect it?

Blog Action Day 15th October 2010

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

Blog Action Day 2010

Here's a blogging challenge....

On Friday 15th October, take part in Blog Action Day by blogging a post on the topic wATER. Watch teh video below or check out the Blog Action Day 2010 site for more information.

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

The necessity of educating women

Sep 23rd 2010, 0:12 by The Economist online

The former president of Ireland on why the Millennium Development Goals are not being met, and why they are still worth pursuing.

Watch the interview here.

Local launch

On Monday 31st May we held the local launch of our book 'The Optimism of Youth' in the school. Self Help Africa will host the national launch of the book in September.

All contributors to the book were invited and we had guests from Galway, Carlow, Meath, Dublin, Derry, and Kildare. After some refreshments served by the students, and a few speeches Mrs Maria Barry, Principal St Wolstans Community School, officially launched the book.

The students were, rightfully, very pleased with the beautiful book that was produced as a result of all their hard work.

Many thanks to Patsy Toland and George Jacob of Self Help Africa, Alan Davis, graphic designer, the Assistant Principals for organising the launch, Ms Clodagh Ward MC, and to the student editorial team for their passion for justice.

The book will be available from the school and through the Self Help Africa website.

Bob Geldof's new MDG project

We emailed Bob Geldof for a submission but unfortunately he was not able to respond, no reason given, but we did get this email from Zita at ONE www.one.org.


"Dear Meg,

Thank you for your request for a submission from Bob Geldof for your project. It has been passed on to me as we at ONE work with him on his Africa campaigning activities. Unfortunately it will not be possible for him to do a contribution, but this is a really great project and I wish you every success with it.
ONE’s mission is focused on achievement of the MDGs, and education is so important not just in its own right but as a key element of enabling the others to be reached. There is some policy information about education in Africa on our website here, in case it is of any use to.
In the run up to the World Cup (rather a sore point I know!) we are part of a coalition called 1 goal which is running a big campaign for the World Cup to create focus on the need for education and generate momentum around MDG 2 http://www.join1goal.org/

Congratulations on this project, it looks great.

With thanks and best wishes
Zita"

Early School Years in Northern Ontario,Canada.

My early school years growing up in Canada were spent living on an isolated gold mining townsite in Northern Ontario, close to the town of Timmins. My father was a geologist and privileged to have a home close to the mine. The section where we lived had only seven houses and was surrounded by rock, sparse trees and lots of blueberries which I loved to pick. My sister who was four years younger was my best friend and has been for over 65 years. Our fun was with each other.
Our parents spent time with us as well as with their friends. I spent hours with a blackboard and chalk playing school with my sister teaching her as well as an assortment of dolls and teddy bears. As she got older we would reverse that role.

My father read to us nightly until I was 9 or 10 and then it was expected that we spend half an hour or so reading in bed prior to going to sleep. My mother had played the piano, and music appreciation for classical music was always part of my life. She taught me how to bake at an early age as well, making cookies on Saturday for school lunches the next week. Proper nutrition was equally important.

The school I attended was close to 2 miles away-a cold bus trip in the winter and a long walk or bicycle ride in the summer. My parents close friends were the teachers so I was frequently taunted on the long walk home being called “Teacher’s Pet” I learned at a fairly early age that “names can’t really hurt you” which helped to teach me tolerance. I also had to be mindful of the fact that there were black bears around and one needed to be wary on that trek home.

There were only 4 rooms in the school with the grades from kindergarten to Grade 8 being doubled up. One learned as the other grade was being taught. We had spelling bees regularly on Friday afternoons where we were lined up in teams on either side of the classroom and encouraged to compete. After that it was arithmetic. I was expected to do well in that subject - my grandfather was a math scholar and in the summers when we visited him in Kingston, Ontario, he quizzed my sister and me regularly. Along with this was again the expectation that education be pursued to the university level. Ideally I would become a 3rd generation Queen’s woman. I am pleased to say that I eventually made that goal, although not without a few character building struggles along the way.

There was good clean fun stuff at school as well. We played baseball, competitive marbles and jacks, and took long walks at lunchtime on paths leading towards the woods. In spring we were taken on nature walks by our teachers and taught to identify wildflowers in season. I can still vividly feel the sunlight on me as we did those walks. What happy memories!

I have for many years valued the isolated early start I had in life. I am not afraid to be alone, and I get along just fine with myself as well as most other people. At the same time my friends are very precious to me.
Brendan Munnelly

The need to raise awareness

We recently wrote to Mary Kenny, a professional writer and columnist with the Sunday Independent, asking for a submission for our book project.

Ms Kenny wasn’t sure if she would be the right person to make such a contribution and admitted “I know very little about education, and I suspect that what I know is probably rather out of date, as it is a few years since my own children were in primary school.

Neither am I very well acquainted with the Millennium Development Goals. I haven’t a clue what “21 quantifiable targets” means. A lot of this bureaucratic jargon obfuscates more than it clarifies. You’d have to explain a lot more to me, so that I could get a clear picture of what you have in mind.”

Ms Kenny wished us much success with the project, saying, “If I knew more about what it actually was, I might be able to comment on it more helpfully.”

While we had explained what the book was about this response highlights the importance of our project; to raise awareness. Isn’t it a sad situation that the people who write columns for us every week in our newspapers don’t know about these important goals? Wouldn’t it be great to get more journalists writing about the MDG goals and making more people aware through their newspaper columns?

Mrs L


--Read Mary’s new book: “Crown & Shamrock: Love and Hate between Ireland and the British Monarchy”, published by New Island Books. (ISBN: 978-1-905494-98-9).

Primary school in Narobi, Kenya

Josephine Anyiko went to Primary school in Narobi, Kenya before coming to Ireland. Here she tells us about school in Kenya.

“Primary Education quite different in Ireland compared to Kenya, it was a privilege for me to go to a primary school in Kenya. School fees were to be paid, different amount for different terms. Our first term was most expensive because we had to buy books, uniforms, shoes etc. third term was the cheapest.

Going to primary school in Kenya was a privilege, you had to be comfortably well off or financially rich to take your child to a primary school. It’s quite expensive for Kenyans to go to school. Transport getting to school and back home again was difficult because of poor roads, if the heavy rains come, muddy roads become impassable. Some children walked long distance.

In Kenya a school year was divided into three terms, 1st term January to March, 2nd term May to July, and 3rd term September to November. We closed for the month of April due to the rainy season, August and December for holidays. Each January you move to another grade.

Primary school in Kenya lasts eight years before you go to secondary school. You start in Pre-unit at age of 6 years. You move until you finish class eight at age of 15 years. Then you are able to go to Secondary school. Secondary school in Ireland is very different to Kenya secondary school. In Kenya Secondary school lasts for four years rather than the 5 or 6 years in Ireland.

During my Kenyan primary school days I witnessed a lot of punishment beatings with a bamboo stick. This would happen to students who came to school late, if homework was not done, or if you were rude to a teacher. I was often scared, but like most things I got used to it. I don't think it did me any harm.”

Sarah's grandparents recall school

Sarah Mc Evoy spoke with her grandparents, Paddy and Mary Smith, for our book project. Here is what they told her.

Mary says, "When I went to primary school, we were educated by nuns. We had no uniform, and so, we wore whatever clothes we had at home. There were very few teachers in my school. The entire school was taught by 3 nuns. Everyone was a very good student because we loved school and loved learning. In primary school I made many friends that are still good friends today, many years later. At break, we would play marbles and skipping. Because I had my primary education, I was able to go on and do my Intermediate exam. In my opinion primary school were some of the best years of my life. I learned social skills and I made many friends. Without primary education I would be lost. I would not be able to read or write and this would really hold me back today."

Paddy told Sarah, "We were educated by the local laity. We wore our own clothes as nobody could afford a uniform. There was little formal education in my primary school. When I was 10, I left school to work on the family farm. There was only 1 teacher in my school. He taught all the students from 1st to 6th class.

Everyday, each person in the school had to bring a sod of turf for the fire. This was the only source of heat in the school. I had to walk 4 miles to and from school every day, no matter what the weather was like. Although I left school when I was 10, I still learned many valuable things like how to read and write, how to communicate with people, how to work as part of a team and how to make friends. I think that primary school is an experience that nobody ever forgets and it is really important in the rest of your life."

Thanks to Paddy and Mary for sharing those memories with Sarah and with us.

Cathy Geagan - never lose your education

Cathy Geagan wrote to us and told us that in China,

"Almost 5 million students a year fail to complete compulsory education on time. About 1 million children drop out of school each year because of poverty, particularly ethnic minorities and girls – and those girls who remain in education are often the victims of systemic gender discrimination, particularly in rural areas. The poverty of an area as well as the poverty of individual families is an obstacle, with many schools in China lacking the resources to provide more than two to three years of schooling. They are poorly equipped, often providing little more than desks and chairs, and their curricula are severely limited. Notebooks and writing materials, not to mention quality stimulating textbooks are often prized possessions for the lucky few with access to them."


Cathy and her friends taught in XingMeng School, a combined primary, middle and senior school with over 4,000 students. Her job was to teach English as a foreign language.

Cathy says, "The students were all very dedicated to their education, raising at 6am for morning exercises before breakfast and class beginning, with supervised study after the days schooling only ending at 9pm. It was apparent in every one of my students that they prized their education, and considered themselves lucky to be getting it."

Cathy's teaching methods were fun compared to traditional Chinese methods.

" Bringing 'fun' into the classroom made us popular with the students, but it was remarkable how it never made education frivolous for them. It was too important to ever be that.

All over the world, every day, people experience loss. They lose their jobs, their homes, their partners, their minds – no one can ever lose an education. Chose to waste, yes, but never lose. I believe every child on earth, no matter what their nationality or economic status, should have primary education as a building block they will never lose – not least for the ability to go places in their heads."

Joan O’Flynn remembers and reflects

Joan O’Flynn, Celbridge Camogie/GAA and National President, Camogie Association reflects on her primary school days and how she can't imagine life without the opportunities they presented her.

"When I was attending primary school in Ladysbridge National School in East Cork, a new school was built in our parish when I was in sixth class. It amalgamated three small schools into one new modern school. We moved to a school that had six classrooms instead of two. I moved from a classroom with one teacher and four classes, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th class, to a classroom where the teacher had all 6th class. We had central heating instead of an open fire, indoor toilets instead of outdoor ones and had a huge big playing field and a basketball court instead of a small school yard.

You're probably saying this must have been a 100years ago but it wasn’t - it was in the 1970s. The good thing was that improving the conditions of our school was providing us with warm and spacious facilities plus recreational space meant that our opportunity to grow and learn also improved. We were lucky as many children around the world still don’t enjoy that opportunity.

I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without the opportunity to meet and mix with and learn with children from different backgrounds and experiences. I got these opportunities mostly through school.

I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without the ability to think, read, write, analyze, question, dream and imagine. I learned these at school.

I can’t imagine what my life would have been like without the fun, the play, the laughs, the cries and the friendships from those school days.

These are all life long skills, gifts and memories. 2015 is only five years away. Working to promote awareness of the Second Millennium Goal and attaining it is both urgent and important so that every child, no matter where they live, has the opportunity to learn, to grow and to reach their full potential."

Life is a school!

Ignace B. Wedraogo, a Philosophy teacher and the founder of Primary and secondary schools in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso sent us this lovely poem.

Life is a school!

We are born young, babies.
We want to live, so we have to go to school.
The child is the father of the man.
A kid needs a good education to be a great man tomorrow.
Educate a girl is educate a Nation, people say.
Primary education is the cement of live.
Free primary education for all children.
Life is a school!

Ode to School

In the classroom,
Out in the yard,
Having fun,
Having a yawn!
Growing up,
With all your friends,
Drawing, colouring,
The day never ends!
Learning about,
Normandy,
Seeing the world,
In a different way.
Sadly,
When that bell goes,
We gather up our homework,
(Oh no!)
But saying goodbye,
To all your friends,
But still it seems,
Never to end!

by Alison O’Neill (11)
Scoil Mochua Primary School, Aghards, Celbridge

Memories of School in the 50’s

Short trousers, new school bag, jam sandwiches and a bottle of milk. Fear in my eyes, my mother reassured me- “Everything will be fine.”
Into my classroom- the “Master” introduces himself. No niceties- more of a question of “I’m the boss, and if you do what you’re told, you won’t get hurt.”

There was no such thing as charts on the walls, computers, CD players or anything like that. The education system in the 50’s was the ‘Chalk and Talk’ approach. We listened, we learned, and if we didn’t, there would be consequences. This came in the form of the feared ‘bata’. We learned mostly out of fear, but we definitely learned, and we still remember our tables very well!

Later, when I was allowed to go to school on my own, the highlight was calling into Sarah Flood’s shop to buy a pennyworth of jellybeans, which Sarah carefully put into a cone which she made out of newspaper. She also sold ‘slab’, a toffee which was as hard as a rock. Three squares could last you for the day if you weren’t caught chewing it in school. For safekeeping, it was often stuck under our desk. Sometimes, if we had to move places, there was an added bonus of finding a supply of slab stuck under the desk!

At the end of primary school came the ‘Primary School Cert’, an exam which put as much pressure on children as the Leaving Certificate does today. But enough of primary school. The next big adventure was being sent to boarding school. “Sent” is probably the wrong word, as I really wanted to go there. I had heard enough stories about midnight feasts, tuck shops and the like, to make me think that this would be like heaven. It wasn’t heaven, but it wasn’t exactly hell either!

Ciarán McCarthy

Bittersweet

Kellie Marie O Callaghan talked with her nana, Margaret Mc Evoy, about her primary school days in Annagh N.S, Co Clare, in 1935. Here she tells us some of her nana's memories.

Margaret walked 3 miles to school every day, it took the best part of an hour to get there. School started at 9.30am. There was no specific uniform, you wore what you had at home. Many children went to school without shoes, in winter she had to wear hobnail boots. If it was very wet her dad would bring her and her brothers and sisters to school in the pony and trap. They used pens, pencils and paper. In their school, Confirmations were only held every three years. The teacher had a cane, which she used on you if you didn’t know the answer to a question, if you were late, or if you misbehaved.

At lunchtime she played tig, hopscotch and if you were well off enough to have a skipping rope, skipping. Everyone had to bring their own lunch with them to school. She learned reading, writing and maths, if you didn’t do it right you were caned.

There were around 20 in her class. Fourth, Fifth and Sixth class shared a room. It was a two-room school. She attended and all-Irish speaking school where English was taken on as a subject. You had to do a preparatory exam before you left school to see if you were entitled to go on to Secondary school. Some students were lucky enough to get a scholarship to secondary school if they got good enough marks in the preparatory exam. School finished at 3.00pm. Every day you had to bring a sod of turf for the two open fires in the school.

Kellie Marie says, "I think that the best phrase to describe primary school education in those days is ‘bittersweet’. You were privileged enough to receive an education but there was the drawback of harsh corporal punishment which in the 1930’s was prominent. For my Nana and I’m sure for many other people, receiving that education meant that new horizons opened up for her. As a result of her primary school education she got the opportunity to travel to England and become a Nurse."

By Kellie-Marie O’Callaghan
Newcastle
Co Dublin

Words from Oxfam

Jim Clarken, Chief Executive, Oxfam Ireland sent us some very interesting information about education and development in the new millennium.

He tells us that the long-term impact of the global economic crisis of 2008 on education will be severe. Due to this crisis some of the world’s poorest families may be forced to pull their children out of school for economic reasons. With rising malnutrition, the education of many children will suffer due to hunger. Sub-Saharan Africa alone could see a reduction of $4.6bn per year in the total resources available for education to 2010.

Mr Clarken believes we must now band together to tackle one of the most pressing human rights challenges of our day: the denial of a basic education to millions of girls and boys, in the poorest countries.

Thanks you to Mr Clarken for sending us this stark reminder.

Kitengela Primary School, Kenya

We've all seen the images on the Trocaire boxes; the melancholic advertisements on our television screens 'disrupting' our viewing, and the celebrities like Bob Geldof and Bono campaigning against Famine and Drought. To be honest, it was with these images and a feeling of guilt that I volunteered to teach primary school children in Kenya. With these feelings I arrived in Kitengela Primary school. What all these images fail to capture however is the fun, vitality and youth of Kenya. The looks of amusement when I turned around from the blackboard having set an essay title, or the apprehension displayed as they knawed their pencils during a maths test or the friendly greetings of Mzungu' from the locals.

Nowadays, I don't look at the Trocaire boxes with pity but with optimism.

Mike Mc Donald is a medical student a U.C.D.

Final draft of book

Ms Kavanagh Bracken and Mrs Leahy had a marathon meeting yesterday with Patsy Toland, Self Help Africa, and Alan Davis the graphic designer of our book. We made final decisions on what submissions to include in the book.....draft 5 version 3!

Draft 5 version 4 goes to the printer today. We are very happy with what has been achieved and look forward to seeing all the hard work in book form. We are aiming to have our first batch of books by May 18th.

Well done TY's and 5th years.

We will continue to post some stories here so come back soon.
Mrs L

Final day of submissions.

Thanks a million to you all for looking at our blog and especially for your very interesting submissions and support in this Fifth and TY project.
We are having our final meetings this week regarding submissions, so if you are visiting our blog for ideas, do try to submit yours a.s.a.p!
Our first draft goes to the Editor and Graphic designer 11th March 2010. Hopefully we will receive your submissions before then.
A.K.B.

A picture paints a thousand words....

Ingrida Sudpyte,of class Rose in Fifth year submitted a black and white drawing on the theme of education for all... a beautiful illustration. Thanks Ingrida.

Clare responds to 'school through the Fields'......

Well done girls on taking on this very interesting project. I look forward to reading the book the 'Optimism of Youth'.
Reading through my fathers contribution I thought I'd share a window into my own rich education, not only received in Askea School, Carlow but also in our home.
At home we were also educated in the Arts, Irish culture and heritage.
Like many of your contributors I grew up in the seventies and as in so many other homes I was sent to elocution, Irish dancing and Piano classes.[Education is not confined to the classroom].
Unfortunately I hadn't my dads talent for producing Music but I learned from him how to appreciate it. I have fond memories of 'music nights' at home where friends and neighbours came together to play instruments, sing and tell stories into the wee small hours of the morning.
My dad taught us the art of musical appreciation, while my mother taught us the value of socialisation,and how to throw a good party with great generosity. The rich traditions associated with education from 1934 to the early 50's particularly Irish language, games and Irish history were encouraged and lovingly fostered in our home. Our parents worked with the teachers throughout our education in fostering a love of learning in whatever area we were interested in. I believe the secret to a good education is home and school working together. we appreciate this as we grow older.

Good luck with your very interesting publication.
Clare Kavanagh.

A delightful poem in Irish from Sadhb Nealon. Dublin

Ar Scoil

Sa seomra ranga
‘Dia duit’, a mhúinteoir
Amach le mo leabhair
Chuir mé iad ar an gcuntar

D’fhoghlaim mé Ceol,
Eolaíocht agus Mata,
Ealaín ansin
Tharraing mé fear le hata

Ag an sos
Nach orm a bhí brón
Rinne mé dearmad
Ar mo lón

Cara deas
A thug brioscaí dom
Brioscaí milse
Yum, yum, yum

Amach ar an gclós
Buachaillí ag imirt peile
Mise ag caint
Le mo chara Bella

Ar ais sa rang
Béarla, Tíreolaíocht, Stair
Dán agus scéal
As an leabhar ‘Bun go Barr’

Is bréa liom an scoil
An sport ‘is an spraoi
Ach an t-am is fearr
Abhaile ag a trí!


Sadhbh Nealon

Anneliese Kenny Age 7

Anneliese Kenny from Co. Meath took time out of her day to write to us and send us her views on her educational experience. She certainly appreciates the opportunities that school offers.
She says............
'School is important because you can play with friends
you learn maths and Art,
it's where you meet people,
you get to know your teacher.
you get new things for your school
School is a place to have fun.
Even if you are a deaf or blind child, you can go to school".

What insight from a seven year old'

Most of our younger contributers are enjoying school life today,though there are always those who don't for a variety of reasons,many of our grandparents and parents tell us they heve experienced fear and use of corporal punishment.Thankfully times have changed and our educational experiences have improved.

From Russia with Love .............

Valentina Barauskayte from Class Hume in Sixth year has sent us a submission regarding her love of primary school days. In short, she loved the fun she had, meeting up with friends and games. She believes from her experience that children are more respected in Russia than Ireland... a very interesting observation Valentina. Thank you.

Busy Behan.

First years in Class Behan have been busy writing up their memories and interviewing members of their families who have a story or two about their experience of primary education and the importance of accessing this important right in life.

Thank you girls for showing such interest.

Primary School Photos

Senior Infants - 2000
Scoil Naomh Brid,
Celbridge,
Co. Kildare
Ireland.




Year 2 - 2000
Our Ladys School,
Amersham,
Buckinghamshire,
England.

Thanks to Caroline for the photo! (:

Some pictures

Chloe Ennis King,
Scoil Mochua Primary School,
Aghards

Some pictures

Gary Devine
Scoil Mochua Primary School,
Aghards





Yusuf Budwa
Scoil Mochua Primary School,
Aghards

Fr. Tom Norris

Fr. Tom Norris, a theologian at St.Patrick's College Maynooth,Co kildare sent us a contribution for the book. He explains how memories of his Knocktopher Primary School in Co. Kilkenny are tied to joy for him.
He speaks about learning of hero's, heroines, saints and missionaries - and of long lasting frienship with the Master of the school. Very interesting.

Five of the Best - John Noonan

John Noonan sent us in a memory where he got five of the best, he got slapped with the strap five times in one day - ouch! It wouldn't happen today, Thank God.

A lovely piece by Rita O'Donoghue entitled "A Magic Eye"

The writer compares going to school being like a magic eye, it gives you views into the world that you never knew existed and as you grow up and continue to learn you can use all these magic eyes to make our world a better place - Truly magic indeed.

The other side of the story

Aisling Lee speaks of her time in primary school and gives a point of view which is rarely heard.
Bullying was prominent in her life and she speaks of how she went through school life coping with it. She also gives her view on Primary School from a victims point of view. This project she says is 'part of my healing process'.


This insight into bulling is valuable for us all. Many adults and teenagers will recall similar episodes in their own primary school lives. This reflection reminds us how bullying is never acceptable.

Your honesty is refreshing brave and reveals great compassion. Thank you Aisling

6th years reflect on their memories

The following 6th years have made significant contributions on their time in primary schools located in the developing world.....

Nathalie Lukumu is from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa. In Class she shared her story of how there are four National languages in her native homeplace. The language that Nathalie spoke in her home and with her friends was Lingala. French was the official language in Primary schools in the Congo. In school she was not permitted to speak Lingala only French. If You spoke Lingala you were punished with a stick.

This story reminds us of what life was like for Irish children in the 1930's and 1940's when Irish was the prefered language in primary school.

Marta Szulc gave her story on primary education in rural Poland not too far from the german border.

Florina Varga from Romania tells how irrelevant she felt some of the curriculum was in her time there and how she finds the Irish primary school curriculum more engaging for children.
Florina having experienced respect and professionalism from Irish teachers now realises that many teachers in Romania use corporal punishment toaday when teaching. This Florina says 'instils fear in the student'and you learn only because you are scared'. Teachers tend to behave aggressively in the Romanian system of education. Professionals generally tend to discriminate against the poor and especially the Gypsies, even in the schools. There are separate classes for Gypsies. Students in these classes are treated differently to the more middle class child. For Florina she had a positive enough experience in school but she really wants to contribute to changing social policy in her country.

This exercise of reflecting on her early school days, has ignited a real interest in the way children are treated in Romania, 'When I grow up I want to work in Romania and help change society there'.


Inesa Vaskaviciute from Lithuania liked her days in primary school there, She played chess dodgeball and hopscotch. She enjoyed school days.S he studied English, Art,and Lituanian.

Karolina Zdeb from Poland speaks about her classes in diving and swimming twice a day in her primary school. She is an advocate for more P.E. Overall her experience in Polish Primary school was positive though she does rememember being bullied... 'a fact of life' she says.

Helina Solomon from Ethiopia had a very positive experience of primary school in Addis Ababa. She explains there was emphasis on science, not the arts subjects in their curriculum. She wore a uniform. School day was from 9am to 4pm. She studied the sciences including Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Maths, Bible studies, Amharic and English. Helina recognises that she had a priviledged education in Addis Ababa.

All students of class Mandela enjoyed hearing the stories of primary education from their 'new Irish' classmates.

Thanks girls for your input.

Poem 'Outsider' Written By Hannah Walsh Aoife O Brien Susan Mc Cormack

These ladies wrote a very interesting poem contrasting children who go to primary school with children who don't. It highlights the view of a child who does not appreciate the priviledge of primary education. The girls stood in the shoes of children marginalised and outside the loop of school at a young age.

Some Quotes from Primary School Children.

'I like school because we learn something new everyday' Saoirse Farrelly

'It is good to get an education because when we grow up we can get a job. Ms Geraghty my teacher is kind and helps us with everything we don't understand' Grace Fannin

'Science is kind of fun, except when things go boom in my face' Amy Mc Govern

'I like PE because after being in a classroom for hours its good to run around like a lunatic' Adam Devlin Mc Morrow

'My favouritre thing of all would be if I had a homework machine' Cian Gowran

'I don't know what I would do without school like the poor children in Africa' Adam Keogh

'School is an opportunity to make friends' Eoin O' Dwyer

'The uniform is so people know I'm from Scoil Mochua and when I go on trips if I ever get lost I'll be able to find my classmates' Ellie Gunn

'The children that don't get an education, they don't get half the things that you get' Keenan Stack

'School is important in many ways so it should be a part of every country. School is also a place where people make memories' Ciara Keogh

5th Class, Scoil Mochua, Aghards, Celbridge.

Aghards 5th Class.

Today, six girls from the book committee went down to the local primary school, Scoil Mohcua, Aghards, to talk to the 5th class students about their experience of primary school.
We gave them all an opportunity to express their feelings, through art, poetry or literature. We received about 50 contributions from the students, who were all very eager to get their pieces published. Some of the pieces produced are very moving, and show great understanding of what some children around the world experience. Many of the pieces show what a happy childhood children in Ireland have had through their primary school experience.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the day and it shone a light on the differences between 1st world and 3rd world children.

Pamela Drumgoole,
TY Desta.

To school through the fields.....

Eighty two year old Wexford man and well known traditional fiddle player Patrick Kavanagh remembers his earliest days at primary school in Oylegate, Enniscorthy Co. Wexford. The year was 1933.

''Miss Larkin was my first teacher. The games I played included hurling, rounders, and marbles. On the first day of May every year I kicked off my shoes and walked barefooted to school through the fields. All children did the same. It was the culture at the time. We enjoyed that freedom.”

When Patrick moved house and school to Rosslare Mercy Convent Sr. Francis taught him for three years. “I walked three miles to and from school across fields every day not unlike many children in underdeveloped countries today. I walked alone.”

“My music career began at the age of seven. I had piano lessons from Sr. Margaret Mary in the Mercy Convent. She taught me the basic rudiments and from there I played the Banjo, Mandolin and Fiddle. My musical education was the most significant part of my educational experience in primary school and I am grateful for the musical education that the Mercy nuns finely honed. I play the fiddle every day and at eighty two am still learning... you could say I'm a life long learner.”

Patrick Kavanagh, 'Shalom' Kilkenny Road, Carlow.

Thoughts from Canada

Sinéad Keogh sent us this from her auntie and uncle who are now living in Canada.

Sinéad's auntie Julie started elementary school at the Model School, Inchicore, in 1943, aged 5. Julie wasn't always a big fan of school, saying that “ it didn't come easy to her but it was something we all had to do, in hindsight it was a wonderful opportunity that most of the world at that time did not have.”

Julie’s formal education ended when she was 14 as she did not have the choice to go on further. When Julie moved to Canada she took the education opportunities offered by her company and is now retired on good benefits. Julie says “I also have a good pension and benefits so yes I would say my basic education in grade school was invaluable in helping me achieve my goals."

Julie’s husband Joe remembers learning religious instruction at school along with learning to read and write the Irish and English language, basic Math, History and Geography.
Joe says “I must state here how important it was to learn how to read and write English because Ireland’s greatest export at that time was its people. Most went to Britain, U S A, Canada and Australia. I was one of the people who emigrated to Canada in 1965. I can honestly say from my experience, and I have met many from different countries that the vast majority did very well, myself included, Thank God.”

Julie and Joe White, Toronto, Canada

Grandmothers and their Granddaughters agree on the importance of friends and teachers

Two five year old girls gave us their oral reaction to the Question 'Why is school important to you?
Aoife Moloney and Isabella Chesterfield. together with their respective Grandmothers share their thoughts...

'We note from the reactions of these two grandchildren and their grans just how important school friendships, and teachers are in the lives of students. Isn't this true of all children all over the world and down through the years?

We would like to see all five year olds in our world today having an access to primary education like Aoife and Isabella? Can this happen by 2015?

In 1938 Aoife's gran, Madge Kavanagh, was in her first year in Caroreigh National School, Taghmon, Co.Wexford.
She says "My first teacher was very important to my development. Ms O' Loughlin from Gorey Co.Wexford taught me for five years. I learned well in her classroom as she was kind, and she made learning easy".

Madge's grandaughter Aoife Moloney from Gaelscoil Eoghan ui Tuairisc, Carlow has this to say about her first year in primary school.

'I love going to school because..
I love to play with my friends.
I like learning 'jolly phonics',
I love my teacher Muinteoir Treasa,
I love drawing pictures, singing and doing dramas.
and I really love playing games like hopscotch,snake, What time is it Mr.Fox?, Sly Fox, Sticky gooey girl, and Skipping".

Isabella Chesterfield [AGED 5] responds as positively about her first year in primary school. Isabella lives in Guildford, Surrey, England and attends Merrow Primary School.
Chatting about school,Isabella explained why it is important to her life.
She says
"I Love Megan, my friend,
I love Miss Fry, my teacher,
and I love drawing and dancing".

Isabella's grandmother Mu Curtis went to school in the suburbs of London in Surrey during the 1940s. She agrees with her granddaughter that school friends are important to your life. They were key to a happy school experience too.
Mu is still friends with Jennifer Young[Grover] whom she met when she first went to school. Proving the importance of school friends for life.

A story from Tom Mc Caughren

We have just received a contribution from Tom Mc Caughren, author, journalist and broadcaster, who lives in Dublin. http://www.tommccaughren.net/

Most children don’t like going to school but Tom tells a story about two primary schools whose pupils actually did like school. There may have been days, of course, when they didn’t like the thought of it – we’ve all had days like that – but their inspirational headmasters, Master Russell and Master Gardner, tried to make education meaningful for them.

Tom credits Master Gardner with having extracted some little talent from his undeveloped mind, and with the fact that he went on to become a writer.

Thanks to Janet for contacting Mr Mc Caughren for us.

School during the war years

Sarah Vance sent us a reflection from her granny, Barbara Vance, who went to school in Norwich, England during WW2. In it she tells us that one day during World War two as she reached the school gates the siren went off to say the planes were coming. So after two and a half miles to reach school Barbara had to turn around and go home, half way there another siren went off which meant that the planes where over head so she started to run home. After being home about ten minutes the 'all clear' came and she began another two and a half miles walk to school.

It never occured to her to stay at home rather than walking back in as she enjoyed school so much. Even after Barbara left school she would go back to the school twice a month just to see her teachers.

Isn't it great that Primary School can hold such happy memories for some people? Oh that all children could experience this.
Mrs L

A prayer from Adi Roche

We have just been sent an Old Irish Prayer that Adi Roche, CEO & Founder of Chernobyl Children’s Project International, likes very much. She feels it spells up a general attitude to life in terms of respect, education, what it is to work, to love, to dream and to laugh. She hopes it will be seen as a universal prayer for children and also adults everywhere.

Adi also sent a beautiful and colourful drawing done by Kristina in Vesnova Children’s Mental Asylum in Belarus. Kristina is an amazing little girl and lived in Ireland last year to undergo very serious medical surgery. She is now 10 years old and lives with a new foster family in Chernobyl Children’s Project International ‘Homes of Hope’ Programme.

Irish-Canadian remembers primary education in Ireland during the 1940's

We have a very interesting reflection from Brendan Munnelly,an Irish Canadian living in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
His story is a reflection of Primary school education in the 1940s at a truly national level because it takes us through his experiences in three Counties Galway, Donegal and Wexford.
Each School and teacher was significant and made a difference to his life.He has many positive memories. He says doing mental maths in 6th class was a life long skill that has served him well.
He says he hasn't considered the significance of his primary education until now when asked to do so for our Book Project.
Mrs. K.B


I thought that this extract from Brendans reflection was very interesting..........

"I will never forget the solid grounding in all the subjects given me at that little school in Donegal. And not just the schooling, I had good friends and we had a lot of fun and even a few fights. We lived in the country and there was never a shortage of things to do, building play houses, flying down hills on homemade carts. I am sure some of it was dangerous but none of us cared. We would get cuts and bruises and take them home to mum who would bandage us up and then give a scolding for being so reckless."

Oh that all children could go to school and then go home and play houses, or fly down hills on homemade carts.
Mrs L

Pretty Poems

Mairead A Burke is a twelve year old girl who attends Presentation Girls Primary School in Maynooth, she is in 6th class and her favourite subject is English.
Mairead began writing poetry a year ago.
She sent us in some beautiful poems one of which is titled "Education". In this poem she ponders the question "What is school to me?".
Another young girl who have submitted us poetry is 10 3/4 year old Chloe Walsh. In her poem titled "School" she tells us that school is fun and how much she loves it.
Thank you so much Mairead and Chloe for your contributions. It is great to have primary students involved in this inspiring project.

Short skirts and curls!

This is Anna and her sisters Gracie and Tessie. Anna remembers that Mother Brendan would pin brown paper around the hem of your skirt to bring your hem level below your knee.

One day Gracie used pipe cleaners to curl her hair and went to school with a head of beautiful curls. Mother Brendan took her out to the water pump in the school yard, put her head under it and pumped the water to straighten her hair!!

The nuns believed in those days that short skirts and curls were not modest.
Mrs L

Class Selam

Selams thoughts on Millenium Development Goal No. 2 'Primary Education for all'

No play.
No Socialisation.
No Reading.
No Writing.
No Opportunities.
No Growth.
No Change.
No Dreams.
= No Childhood.

A poem by Emer Martin

We have just received a lovely poem from Emer Martin the Irish novelist, painter and film-maker.

Her poem is dedicated to the millions of children who are not allowed to go to school because they were born female and is entitled AN INVISIBLE PRIVILEGE.

Ali's Gran says...

Ali recently interviewed her Gran about her school days and she ended the interview saying

"Primary education is very important in life. It’s needed to make a good start at life. You meet people there who will stick with you and be friends for life too."

Responses so far

We are continuing to receive contributions for our book and look forward to receiving more.
So far we have received contributions from, among others, the Irish artist Don Conroy,singer songwriter and priest Fr. Liam Lawton, Governor of Mountjoy Prison Mr. John Lonergan,Garda Commissioner Fachta Murphy, Irish poet Denis O Driscoll, Irish Ambassador to US, HE Mr Michael Collins, Ex Taoiseach John Bruton, and Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin.

We have photographs from Suas Educational Development, Camara, and Friends of Londiani.

We have promises of contributions from footballer Packie Bonner,
journalists Joanne Cantwell and Kevin Myres, and from Jim Clarken, Chief Executive of Oxfam Ireland. Darran Irvine from 'Schools Across Borders' will send us some contributions from the Middle East soon.
The team are continuing to work on their 'contacts'!

Sarah's thoughts so far

I was quite excited to get involved in this project after looking at the book that was produced last year. We have been involved in many different things such as asking grandparents or older people in the community about their experience of primary school and how it benifited them. We have also been contacting people in sport, journalism and music for differnt outlooks on primary education.

So far I have really enjoyed this experience and look forward to seeing the end product and hope that it raises awareness of how important it is to have a primary education.

Sarah Vance:)

Anna's memories

I really enjoyed talking with my mother-in-law, Anna, at Christmas about her Primary school days. As we talked her son and daughters listened as well and I can safely say they learnt things about their mothers school days that they hadn't known before. It was a great opportunity for the family to find out more about their mum's childhood.

Anna went to the Faithful Companions of Jesus National School in Bruff, Co Limerick, with her sisters and brothers. She is the youngest child and can remember being so keen to go to school that one day, aged almost 4 years, she followed her sisters, Gracie and Tessie, to school and the nuns allowed her to stay until lunchtime!

When she did eventually get to school, Anna remembered going to Herr's Bakery each lunch time hoping to be first in line to buy a penny bun with a sugar crust for her lunch. The corner crusty ones were the best, they had lots of sugary crust and might even have some currents if you were lucky:) She also remembered that before lunch each day a box of jam sandwiches would be sent down from the convent kitchen and the sandwiches were handed out to the poorer children who had no lunch. After school these children would sweep up the school yard and get more sandwiches before going home for the day. These girls often went "into service" because they could not afford to pay for secondary school.

I'll keep some more of Anna's stories for another time.

Mrs L

Sr Cáit remembers....

Sr Cáit remembers her Primary school days in Room One in a two-teacher school. There was an open fire where bottles of milk, brought from home each day, were warmed. She remembers poorer girls bringing ‘purple sandwiches’ for their lunch, butterless bread, filled with blackberry jam.
Her earliest school teacher was a Kerry woman, who would drape her shawl around Sr Cáits shoulders each day after lunch so she could have a post-prandial nap.
Sr Cáit had a drawing book, interleaved with tissue paper, and she delighted in sketching swans, boats, apple trees and princesses, places and people, real and imaginary.
Miss O’Connor taught knitting but Sr Cáit had to abandon the scarf she was knitting for her dad because it simply grew too wide to fit on the needles. She was also taught to sew, to do wonders in mending and to ‘turn a heel’ in a sock. She loved sewing.
The Parish Priest would visit on the last day of each school year. Every girl who hadn’t missed a single day from school was given a small envelope containing a shilling. Sr Cáit remembers winning this prize, riches beyond compare, at least once.
Sr Cáit says “My memories of Primary School, from those hazy earliest ones of my three year old self, are treasured for what they hold of promise and fulfillment, of gift and privilege. Would that every child, everywhere, were equally blessed! “

Sr Cáit Mulligan CHF

Emma's work, and her reaction

When I first heard that we were doing the book on the Millennium Development Goal 2 (Primary Education for all). I was very excited and thought it would be a fun project. So far I have got addresses for people to write to and I also interviewed my grandmother on what primary school was like in her time and what she thought of it.

It was fun to learn new things and see how it was different from my primary school days.
I know that there's lots more to come so I'll be very busy,
Talk to you soon!

Emma M

Eileen's work, and her reaction

So far the book is going down well with the TY's and 5th Years, everyone is getting down to work and trying their best to have the book done by the deadline. Last Tuesday the 26th of January we all got together to discuss what contacts everyone had and the work they had done. Everyone seemed to have a good bit done. Ms Kavanagh Bracken assigned myself and Ellie to get in contact with a Primary school in Melbourne. We all, also have to ask our grandparents about Primary school in their time and I really see a difference between my primary school days and my grandmothers.

Eileen Maher

Ellie's work, and her reaction

The start of this year was the start to my Transition Year experience, and I told myself from the beginning I was going to get involved in lots of ways and in lots of different projects.
When I first heard about the Book project, I was immediately interested and knew that I wanted to be a part of it.
A group of enthusiastic TY's got involved and the work got off to a great start. The group had regular meetings and we were joined by some Fifth years also interested in helping out. So far our book is coming along great and we are still contacting people to ask for their contributions.
Eileen, Niamh and I were given the task of contacting a school in Melbourne which we will be doing before our next meeting and are really looking forward to hearing what their input will be.
This project is something I am really proud to put my name to, something I am glad I am involved with. The Millennium Goal to achieve worldwide primary education is amazing and something that is so important, being able to do anything to help even in a small way is something good.
Being involved so far has been really enjoyable and a great experience and I am really looking forward to what the next few weeks will bring and of course to the finished book.

Ellie :)

Ali's work and her reaction

This year, the book got off to a good start with many people interested in helping complete the book. We were delegated into different groups and got to work.
My group had to come up with different people to write to and to e-mail. The list of names which we came up with were given out to people to get contact details, and we all brought them in at the next meeting.
We were also given the task of interviewing our grandparents about their primary school experiences.
At the moment we are all contacting different people with a personal, hand-written letter. Myself and Hannah are also being put in touch with a school in London, to receive their input for the book.

Hearing my Granny talk about her primary school experiences was really nice. It was great to hear about the things they did at school, and how different it is to what my primary school was like. As I was talking to her about it, she was remembering different details which was nice to see as well.

Alison Bell

Hannah's work and her reaction

So far our book is coming along nicely, everyone is extremely busy but excited about the outcome. At the moment we are trying to get the contents of the book intact and the people we want to be part of this wonderful opportunity finalized. The main objective of this book is to highlight the importance of primary education. It also emphasises the relevance of the second Millennium Goal.
I think the fact that a group of young secondary students are the lead creators of the book, gives it an interesting edge and expands the aspiration of the book to a variety of age groups. I am really enjoying the process and very happy to be a part of it.

Hannah Walsh.

Paula's work and her reaction

I really wanted to become involved in this project as soon as I heard about it as there is over seventy million children worldwide that do not have access to an education. A primary education is so important as it helps a child to reach their full potential and gives them so many more oppurtunities in life. With so many children deprived of an education this book will help raise awareness on the goal "primary education for all" and will help in this goal being achieved worldwide by 2015.
We are now working on getting submissions of peoples thoughts,reflections, memories on the theme of Primary Education in order to create a thought provoking book. I am really enjoying working on this book and it has made me realise the true importance of primary education which many of us take for granted. I interviewed my mother on her experience and memories of primary school, to contribute to the book. It was intresting to compare the differences between her memories and mine and to learn more about my mothers school life. I am really enjoying working on this book and am finding it a very wothwhile and intresting experience :)

Paula Cunnifffe

Louise's work and her reaction

Hi there,
Work for the Towards 2015 book for Universal Primary Education is
truly underway.
For the book, we are each going to interview our grandparents about
their primary school days.
I'm really looking forward to talking to my granny about her school
life in rural Ireland and I can't wait to hear some stories about her
primary school education. It will also be excitig to hear the other
girls interviews aswell.
At todays meeting, we all were assigned famous people to contact,
asking for them to contribute stories from their childhood education
or to speak about the importance of primary school education for all.
The entire experience with the preparation for the book has been
really enjoyable and I know its only going to get better.

Louise Geagan Murray