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PODCAST

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education

How many times have you said to yourself, "If I were the Minister for Education…?" Well I do! Rather than grumble to myself, I decided to podcast my thoughts on ways I"d change the primary education system in Ireland. Every episode I"ll take on a different theme, give some background and hopefully come to some conclusions by the end. simonmlewis.substack.com

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All Episodes

55:32

Interview 23: Muireann Sadlier

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2025/01/21

In this podcast episode, I interview Muireann Sadlier, the Director of Cyber Smarties Ireland, discussing the importance of keeping children safe online while teaching them to use the internet positively. Sadlier shares her extensive background in education, focusing on wellbeing and behaviour, and introduces Cyber Smarties, an app designed for primary schools that supports children's social skills and online safety. We explore alarming statistics on children's online experiences, the challenges of

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46:22

10 Reasons to Be Hopeful for Education in 2025

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2025/01/04

In this episode I reflect on the challenges faced by the primary education system in 2024 and offer ten reasons for possible optimism in 2025. Topics include improvements in special education, the potential of artificial intelligence in classrooms, the evolving role of patronage in schools, the impact of new educational technology, and the hope for a competent new Minister for Education. I also discuss the significance of the new primary maths curriculum, the extension of the primary language

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35:54

Review of the Year 2024 - July to December

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/12/24

If you have been listening to the first half of this episode where I covered the education stories from January to June, you'll notice that the first half of 2024 in schools was not exactly filled with hope. With special education slowly but surely been stripped away and the world falling apart with war. Could the second half of the year, bring some hope? Let see...

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26:57

Review of the Year 2024 - January to June

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/12/21

If there's nothing else you can say about the Minister for Education, Norma Foley. When we look back at 2024, it's likely she will feature heavily. Whether it was her crisis opportunity during the general election campaign or her 9 million Euro phone pouches, in this episode, join me as I look back on a year where the Department of Education were more interested in smartphones than teacher shortages and where all of the problems in the education system seemed to be defended by throwing free school

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43:49

Who will be the next Minister for Education?

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/12/10

In this episode, I count down who I believe are the top ten front-runners to being the next Minister for Education. What position with Norma Foley come? Who do I tip to be the next Donagh O'Malley? Find out in an episode that's like to age very badly!

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33:15

My Election Manifesto

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/11/17

Don't worry, I'm not running in the General Election! You already have enough of me. However, theoretically, if I got to write a Manifesto, there are 4 main areas I would focus on:PatronageSpecial EducationFundingTeacher ShortageYou might be surprised by the first one... listen on your favourite podcast platform

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22:05

Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/11/16

In this final episode of Access Undone, I try to outline the ways I would reverse the damage that has been caused in the last decade by the Department of Education and NCSE. I explore three solutions and argue that if all three were implemented, it would save the agencies from being part of the 21st century's greatest education scandal and, even possibly put them in the same definition of Ireland's most famous minister, Donagh O'Malley.

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18:05

Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/11/12

When I appeared on Virgin Media television's "Ireland's Education Crisis," I thought my phone would be buzzing from radio stations eager to find out why I thought the way we treat children with additional needs is Ireland's 21st century scandal. I didn't hear a single thing. It's a theme I'm getting used to when I raise special education: silence.In the same vein, in this episode, I try to get a look into the inner workings of the NCSE. As you'll probably note from the length of this episode, I

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27:01

Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/10/29

The AON Debacle and what it tells usIn this episode I cover the controversial Assessment of Need (AON) process which, to me, shows how the power of silence, supported by the illusion of partnership that representative bodies find themselves, brought us to a place where schools were forced to get the NCSE and the State out of a legal pickle. This episode gives a single point in the scandal, which gives an example of how the State, supported by the corroboration of representative bodies and

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35:54

Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/10/15

Episode 3: Those with the greatest needsThe episode examines the troubling history of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and its policies, including the controversial cuts to resources and the implementation of flawed allocation models. I discuss the systematic mistreatment and exclusion of special needs children, likening it to past societal scandals.The episode dives into statistical discrepancies and the significant hardships faced by parents and schools, questioning the integrity

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26:18

Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/09/30

Episode 2: Soft BarriersIn this episode I explore the role of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), a quango responsible for organising resources for special education. I trace the NCSE's establishment in 2003 and its subsequent decline in effectiveness, particularly since the detrimental effects of budget cuts since 2008. The NCSE's lack of adequate support, arbitrary allocation of resources, and controversial response to government cuts are all scrutinised. I argue that despite the

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27:51

Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/09/16

If you were to walk into any primary school and compared it to the classroom you might have sat in only a generation ago, apart from a big screen instead of a blackboard, the biggest difference you would see is the diversity of students in that room. One in four children in primary school have an additional need* and according to recent research over 45% of children with support needs are being failed in accessing their right to education. I have spent the last 15 years witnessing the slow collapse

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01:38

Access Undone: The Collapse of Special Education...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/08/29

If you were to walk into any primary school and compared it to the classroom you might have sat in only a generation ago, apart from a big screen instead of a blackboard, the biggest difference you would see is the diversity of students in that room. One in four children in primary school have an additional need* and according to recent research over 45% of children with support needs are being failed in accessing their right to education. I have spent the last 15 years witnessing the slow collapse

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26:24

What do most schools mean when they say Religious...

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/08/22

You will not be surprised to hear that my first podcast of the 2024-2025 school year is about religion in schools. It's a topic I'm always coming back to and it never ceases to amaze me of how many different angles you can find from it. But what I want to explore in this episode is what do most schools mean when they talk about religion. Maybe a better title would have been, "What we talk about when we talk about religion in schools."

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40:34

Special Episode on Special Education

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/06/24

This week, I focus on the significant challenges within special education. I cover recently published inspectorate findings, testimonies from school principals, and a detailed report by a group of parents on the deteriorating state of special education. I discuss the lack of adequate resources, bureaucratic hurdles, and the ineffectiveness of new initiatives, emphasizing the dire need for proper support and funding. I also and, finally, how a 13-year-old girl is most likely to be the one to

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44:10

Interview 22: Debbie O'Neill

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/06/24

I don't know about you, but when I think about Special Education, in general, I think about 3 options - mainstream, special classes and special schools. However, special schools are not simply a one-size-fits-all solution with lots of different types out there that cater for particular needs. This week I talk to Debbie O'Neill, principal of Scoil Eoin, a school for students with mild general learning disabilities. It is also a type of special school that the Department of Education are trying to

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51:12

Israel/Gaza

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/06/10

In this episode, I examine the complex topic of teaching children about war, specifically focusing on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Drawing from my personal background and experiences, I explore the intricacies of discussing such sensitive subjects in the classroom. After that, something completely different as I preview my interview with Paudie Moore, The Teacher's Coach, on maintaining teacher wellbeing. I also touch upon the goal of achieving 400 multi-denominational schools in Ireland and the

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30:34

Interview 21: Paudie Moore - The Teacher's Coach

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/06/09

Over the last couple of years I've chatted to a number of people about wellbeing in the classroom but usually from a child's point of view. And I've talked about resilience, growth mindset, all that kind of stuff. But one thing I'm always interested in is about a teacher's own wellbeing. I was really happy to be joined by Paudie Moore, aka The Teacher's Coach. And that's exactly what he specialises in.

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36:13

The Perennial Family without a School Place

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/05/27

In this episode of 'If I Were the Minister for Education', I delve into the struggles faced by families in securing school placements for children with additional needs, the inefficiencies of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and the dynamics of religious education. I also look at what can be learned from Singapore's education system, following a visit by John Boyle. Show Notes, as always, can be found on: https://anseo.net/?p=19743

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35:52

It's (unfortunately) all about the money

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education ·

2024/05/13

AsMeja sang(I had to google her!), this episode is all about the money and it's all about the dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb decisions recently made by the Department of Education. I look at theSchool Book Grant, theAncillary Grant, and look forward to thesummer programme, all of which have had their funds cut.

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