Class Size Campaign

URGENT! 

The government proposes to increase the pupil-teacher ratio in next month's budget. Even a small increase would have a major detrimental impact on the educational provision for pupils in primary schools throughout the country. Parents and teachers are now actively campaigning against this cynical government measure to spend less on children's primary school education. There have been far too many cuts in the area of education already--cuts to Resource Teacher provision, S.N.A. provision and essential capitation and maintenance grants, are just a few examples.

All parents and teachers are urged to sign the recently-distributed INTO postcard (the one with the photo of schoolchildren on the front bearing the message, "Don't Make Children Pay." Signed postcards may be handed in at the school or posted to a local T.D. or the Minister for Education/ Finance (extra cards are available from the School Office).  Lobbying T.D.s and sending e-mails and/or letters to T.D.s stating that you oppose the idea of increasing the pupil-teacher ratio really would help bolster this campaign. 

This is a very serious issue which will cause schools like ours to lose one, or more, teacher(s) with almost immediate effect. Nationwide, increasing the pupil-teacher ratio will mean a huge increase in the number classes with more than 30 pupils. It will also cause a huge increase in the number of classes with 2, 3 or even 4 grades being taught in the same classroom. Pupils with special needs will suffer most.

Please do what you can to inform others about this issue. Please make your opposition to it known. There isn't much time -- the Budget will be delivered on October 15. The time to act is NOW.