Stephen, as a Catholic Mother concerned for her children's education, I can tell you my vote is switching from SF to DUP next election. Gone are the days when I voted according to the old regime. It is the real issues that matter now.

Posted by Concerned Parent | 26.03.10, 12:58 GMT

someone should warn ruane, her actions or non actions have been the cause of all these troubles, wise up if you cant do it someone else must.

Posted by Wide awake | 24.03.10, 09:28 GMT

Surely something can be done to stop this woman? She seems to get away with anything she wants. Why do people vote for her? Hopefully she will get a sharp awakening as to her popularity soon in the elections. This whole get rid of grammar schools is joke. People want choice for their children. The test at 11 is merely a competition and the winners get to choose which schools they attend. Taking away the prize will not make schools better. If Deni would concentrate on the schools that are failing ,both primary and secondary they would take away the fear people have of sending their children to these schools. When we as parents are convinced that all schools are equal we will be happier to allow our children to go to our nearest school but that doesn't mean we want all schools brought down to the lower level as Ms Ruane wants.

Posted by rm | 23.03.10, 18:51 GMT

Reid, I could not agree more but can we ask SF voters to vote DUP? Perhaps a single issue candidate standing against her is the best option.


Stephen

Posted by Stephen | 22.03.10, 22:17 GMT

Neal, Grainne - there is an election coming up...
This is one area where Catholic and Protestant communities can actually do something for our children by voting against this dreadful woman. We pay her wages and yet she wont listen - we need to remind her who is boss.

Posted by Reid | 21.03.10, 23:12 GMT

I still have no idea how this woman is getting way with this! Please someone tell me!!! Why can she not be stopped - even just to give parents time to ask her what the hell she is doing. Bottom line is my taxes pay her wages and I want an explanation from her. I have yet to hear anyone say "she is right to do this because...." and give a valid reason. Education is very important to most parents - I mean she is an example of what will happen if you dont get an education.

Posted by Grainne | 18.03.10, 12:04 GMT

How long must we be forced to endure this woman? It is sickening to think that in our stupid, undemocratice political system in this part of the UK there is no-one to keep tabs on this woman or to control her. She is out to destroy our British educational system and our very way of life.

Posted by Neal | 18.03.10, 09:04 GMT

NW parent | 12.03.10, 22:45 GMT makes an important point that gets to the core of the selection issue by stating:
"The problem is that the Primary system, in some cases, is not teaching the children and it is only when they start practice tests that the parents become aware of this."
It should be understood that transfer testing is actually a measure of the effectiveness of numeracy and literacy teaching. The pupil has a testing of the teaching by exam but primary school teachers don't want to be measured or held to account. Finding out about teachers inability to teach the building blocks too late should concern all parents.

Posted by Parental Alliance for Choice in Education | 16.03.10, 08:15 GMT

Totally agree with Reid. Am I a bad parent for wanting the best for my children? Would it be wrong for me to get my son who is in P5 at present a tutor when the time comes or would I be a better parent if I left him in the hands of a teacher who is against academic selection and doesn't feel preparation should be part of his school day? My current child was able to get by with my help and hopefully so will my son but I think Ms Ruane has some nerve to try and tell parents and teachers they should give the children extra help. I wonder did her kids get exra help. What kind of socialist state does she want to create?

Posted by rm | 15.03.10, 15:14 GMT

If it is wrong for parents to buy a better education for their children then it is wrong for some people to drive better cars than me - if I cannot afford a BMW then nobody else should be allowed to own one. I also think it unfair that Ruane earns more money than me - I work part time but who cares, it is the inequality that matters here.
Yes Ms Ruane, and anyone else who supports her, either we are all EQUAL on ALL accounts or not at all. That's how stupid the basis of her destructive policies are.

And if she was a 'tennis star' how come I never heard of her...?

Posted by Reid | 15.03.10, 14:00 GMT

I believe RM we are from the same "neck of the woods". Said grammar is my sons first choice, last year may have been a one off as far as turning kids away. Historically that school has taken a number of B1's in its intake. But he still has good options as does your daughter, with the other grammars in our neighbouring town, if over subscription is an issue this year. And yes, life is quite competitive outside Belfast.

Posted by NW parent | 15.03.10, 13:29 GMT

NW parent, I totally agree with you with regard to what the transfer test preparation tells parents about the teaching levels in primary schools. I too live in the NW and have seen some children transferring to other schools simply because they seem getting the children up to the level they are supposed to be at. I for one only found out about my child needing my help with maths when I saw her practice papers. If I hadn't been made aware of her weaknesses and helped her with them her school would have continued on their merry way telling me she was doing fine in all areas. Unfortunately in some schools average is fine. She needed help which I had to provide and thankfully it was enough to turn the sitation around and get her the result she needed. She now goes into big school a more confident and capable child. Thank goodness for transfer practice papers...a parents guide to where their child is really at.

Posted by rm | 15.03.10, 11:43 GMT

P7 parent, I also am a P7 parent from a rural loaction well outside Belfast and with a local grammar school which last year turned away 10 A's because of over subscription. I can tell you academic selection is indeed relevent for children and parents in this area. Believe it or not there is life outside of Belfast and parents from all over Northern Ireland want the best for their children and if that is an academic path then they will do whatever it takes to support them. I for one feel that if the schools prepared the children to a level which parents felt was satisfactory then additional tuition would die a death. Parents simply do not have that confidence in the current climate when the amount of extra help differs so much from school to school. Ms Ruane needs to wake up and help the schools that need help not the ones that are doing fine already.

Posted by rm | 15.03.10, 09:36 GMT

Liz G says Ruane should bring secondary schools up to standard. This is a complaint made by some and needs explaining I think. Secondary schools, now, more than ever face a decline in the ability profile of their children as well as falling numbers and also bear the brunt of redundancies. Wjy? It is because grammars now take in not just the most able but from all grades until they fill their quota. Therefore, Grammars are no longer grammar and secondary schools become very much more challenging - this means that in the current state of affairs that those who support academic selection - which will be the top 25% approx are not getting a system that gives it and the secondary schools face more and more challenges, with less funding and less teachers due to redundancy.
many parents like 'selection' because it is not a gramamr selection but a comprehensive one - they may feel different if Ruane instigated true 'most able' selection.

Posted by Dave | 15.03.10, 09:33 GMT

a tenis star as an education minister says it all what qulifactions does she have to dictate where and how we educate our children yes another erosion of our society along with policing and justice what next nhs

Posted by mike | 14.03.10, 09:59 GMT

Our Education Minister or should I say Dictator, Ruane is now telling teachers what they should and shouldn't do in their private time - unqualified arrogance and complete lack of accountability.

Posted by Mark | 14.03.10, 09:49 GMT

"Wake up, the educational landscape is changing in Northern Ireland, we are moving out of the 1950s; wealth and privilege will no longer be able to purchase advantage."
..................................................

Money can buy better houses better cars and a better lifestyle. If you believe it can't buy a better education you are dreaming.

Posted by ZENO | 13.03.10, 21:48 GMT

Boy am I glad she isn't the Minister for Transport - car dealers would have to stop selling vehicles because that practice also 'excludes and discriminates against children from lower income families.' How dare she suggest that a parent who chooses to abstain from alcohol, stop smoking , or forego a holiday in order to educate their child is doing something wrong! I hope teachers see her policies for what they are - divisive.

Posted by Brian Morton | 13.03.10, 17:58 GMT

I have 2 children, the eldest struggled in primary school and did not do the test. He is thriving in a secondary school mainly because the teachers are experienced in teaching children with his level of academic ability and they know how to bring the best out of him. My 2nd child is academic, he will sit the test and I will pay for him to be tutored. I am not wealthy, sacrifices will have to be made, but like most parents I want him to have all the opportunities he can in life and at present the best qualified teachers for him are in grammar schools. In principle I do support the abolition of the 11+ but only when our teachers both secondary and grammar have been re-trained to cope with our children's different levels of ability. The only equality that will be achieved through the current mess that Ms Ruane has made of our education system - is that all children will have a chance of suffering equally.

Posted by unhappy parent | 13.03.10, 16:21 GMT

The problem is that the Primary system, in some cases, is not teaching the children and it is only when they start practice tests that the parents become aware of this.
Hence the push from Primary Principles to remove Academic selection. The teachers will also love Ruanes directive because it means they can't be made accountable for failing to teach.
Hence a certain posters glee....
I moved my child in Year 6 because he wasn't being prepared, to a school that would prepare him to the best of his ability. He did fairly well in the AQE and will look forward to being educated at a level that suits him. He did not require tutoring because practice tests told us that.

MG - if you read other posts in other threads you will find that Exasperated professes to be a Grammar school teacher

Posted by NW parent | 12.03.10, 22:45 GMT