Don't sacrifice our children for short-term gains

Posted on December 09, 2008 at 10:47 AM

Senator Brendan Ryan and Cllr Aodhan O'Riordain
At the education demonstration over the weekend.

The weekend protests where tens of thousands of people from all over Ireland took to the streets of the capital to show people's continuing anger at the serious cutbacks hitting our education sector.

There was a large number of Labour members and representatives at the demonstration including our Education Spokesperson Ruairi Quinn TD.

Speaking about the demonstration Ruairi said: "Saturday's protest was a great show of opposition to Batt O'Keeffe's cutbacks. It is not very often that we see such a large number of people protest against a government cutback. The sense of anger against the increases in class size, against the abolition of grants, against the targeting of our children to pay for this government's mishandling of the economy, was palpable.

"Saturday's march was the culmination of a national campaign against the cuts. All over the country, people have been making their voices heard. However, I don't think this will be the last protest we will see against the government. The public finances get worse by the day, and I think this government's instincts will be to cutback on our children's future even more."

Cllr Joe Ryan from Wexford is a teacher. Writing in his blog he said: "one of the strategies that FF and the Greens have used to sideline the protests is that it's only whinging teachers. Well it is not about teachers, it is about children.

"I met angry parents, special needs assistants, members of boards of management, teachers, pupils, school bus drivers, members of religious orders and Labour members from around the country. I'm delighted there was such a strong Labour presence."

Dermot Looney, also a teacher, is running in the Local Elections for Labour for South Dublin County Council wrote on his blog how this campaign won't succeed overnight.

"We'll need a combined effort across politics, civil society and the media.

"We need to work with parents' groups, the INTO, unions representing SNA's such as IMPACT, and with other political groups and figures. But if we fail to campaign now, these decisions will become an immovable part of our educational future. And this generation will have failed those who come behind."

Tipperary Senator Alan Kelly, who is also the Labour Party candidate for the forthcoming European Elections in Munster/Ireland South asks 'where is the Government's vision' on his blog.

"They are stymieing the development of our children and their potential to contribute to our future economy. I have had a huge volume of parents, teachers and students on to me in relation to these cuts. I have attended a number of rallies in Cork and Dublin and other meetings in opposition to them and the message is the same - don't pick on the most vulnerable people in our society - our children. Don't sacrifice their futures for short term gains."

How are the education cuts going to affect your child's education? Please let us know in the comments section.

A slideshow of images from the demonstration can be viewed on Flickr.

Tagged with Education • education