Sunday, November 29, 2009

A.I.M. said...

1. Regarding the 'survery' (sic) might we know which independent body administered it? What the research questions entailed? How the data was analysed and who the subjects (age group, gender, etc) were? I take serious issue with the assertion that English is not the main language of 73% of the students and I want Mr McGlade to provide the evidence. In fact, I'll volunteer my services free of charge, as part of my MSc in TESOL dissertation to determine the validity of his claim. 2. Of the alleged 73% might we know the percentage who did well, or not? Is it a case that the responsibility for those who didn't do well lays with 'many factors', while those who did do well, again no mention of numbers just an amorphous 'many', demonstrate how well the school is doing? That simply comes across as special pleading. 3. The whole premise of Mc Glade's 'correction' is that the children who did not do well do not have English as a first language. Again talk of a 'survery'(sic) means nothing in the absence of tangible evidence to back up the claim. This requires an independent unbiased source. 4. While McGlade didn't use the word many, the absence of it and the general statement issued in the MetroEireann that those opposed to him are 'hardliners' with 'extreme interpretation' is nothing short of scaremongering and diversionary. If Muslim parents don't want a non-Muslim principal then that is their prerogative and is supported by the state in terms of maintaining a school ethos. Quite frankly how an individual who so readily dishes out extreme labels could be seen to uphold any such ethos is questionable. There are Muslim professionals in Ireland, far more qualified and experienced in the educational arena than Mr McGlade who could take up his position.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

One of the parents is happy with the teachers in Islamia School

One of the parents is happy with the teachers in Muslim National School.

احد الاباء يرى ان المدرسين في مدرسة كلونسكي كفؤ وان الدولة وضعتهم وهو يثق بهم الا ان الاباء والامهات لا يؤدون واجباتهم نحو تعليم اولادهم في البيت

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Correction by Mr. Mc Glade

Thank you for your e-mail. I would like to highlight a few inaccuracies in your statement and to clarify a few points. I never said "many of the children in our school done bad". I pointed out that in the case of children who may not have done too well in the tests, there were many factors which might have contributed to this. The fact that English is not the main language for 73% of the pupils (recent survery) is a major factor. However, it must be pointed out that many children also did well. Your report did not highlight this and gives the false impression that all the children did poorly. This is not the case. I did not say that the children "need not be expected to pass these levels, there should be a lower level of these tests". What I said was that there should be more suitable tests for children whose first language is not English. The level should be the same, as we expect the same high standard for children in this school as in any other school. However, in the case of the Sigma T maths test, there should not be so much English comprehension involved as a false impression can be given where a child may in fact be much better at maths than the test shows because he has so much English to comprehend and English is not his first language. If the test was designed in such a way that there was not so much English to work out, the child would score much higher. But the standard in maths should be as high as is in the Sigma T tests at the moment. I did not say that parents are not supporting the children at home with regard to homework etc. I said that there may be many other factors which affects a child's progress in school. Some parents could be more supportive, not all parents. In the case of some parents, making sure homework is done may be a factor, also taking children out of school during term time for holidays. These are factors involve some parents, not all parents. Many parents are very supportive. Regarding the fact that I am a non-Muslim, I did not say that many parents think that I should not be a headmaster of the Muslim National School - I said that some parents believe this, but they are, I believe, a small minority. Regarding the proposed expansion of the school, I said that the Dept. of Education has given us the go ahead only in principle. I did not say that they will be building the new extension on new land beside us. If the Al-Maktoum Foundation were to purchase the land beside the school, we would then approach the Dept. with a request to build an extension school building on this land. However, the school has not yet been given the go ahead to appoint a design team, which is the next step, and it may be years before the Dept. gives this go ahead due to the downturn in the economy. So if there is to be an expansion, we may have to depend entirely on the Al-Maktoum Foundation, and they are not showing any interest at the moment. I hope the above gives more clarity to what we discussed and I request that you bring these points to the readers of your site. Regards, Colm Mc Glade