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Dáil Éireann - Volume 278 - 11 February, 1975 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Vocational Schools Games. Mr. Noonan Mr. Noonan Mr. Wilson Mr. Wilson 11. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Education why games are no longer regarded as a class subject in vocational schools which have not got a physical education teacher. Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke 10 Mr. R. Burke: Under the agreement relating teachers' hours per week to class contact on the teaching of subjects [10] of the approved curriculum, it was not considered appropriate to include time spent on games for the purpose of reckoning such class contact hours except in the case of a teacher of physical education. This does not prevent games from being time-tabled in any school. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Is the Minister aware of the general outcry by various vocational committees as a result of this agreement? Does he not agree that this is taking education back 50 years by relegating physical education and games as an unimportant subject? Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke: The Deputy will realise that there was a substantial reduction in hours granted to the teachers and it is incumbent on me as Minister to see that a reasonable number of class contact hours is maintained for that section of the teaching profession. It is not necessary or desirable that games should be excluded. Indeed, games can be included in the way suggested in the previous question. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: Would the Minister agree that the subject of games is every bit as important as academic subjects? Would he not agree that by laying down this principle he is relegating the role of games in education? Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke: I am not doing what the Deputy suggests. I am stating simply that class contact hours will be as set out in the agreement between the Department and the teachers in question. Mr. G. Fitzgerald Mr. G. Fitzgerald Mr. G. Fitzgerald: Does the Minister realise that this act is discriminating against the schools that do not have a physical education teacher? Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: That is most of them. Mr. G. Fitzgerald Mr. G. Fitzgerald Mr. G. Fitzgerald: In view of that, does he not realise the serious plight of young people in smaller vocational schools throughout the country whose teachers have devoted so much time to their physical education and would he not review his decision in the light of this? Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke 11 Mr. R. Burke: I am sure the Deputy is not trying to give the impression that I am preventing teachers from taking [11] games in small vocational schools around the country. Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley Mr. Crowley: We realise the Minister is not the only party to this agreement, that there are two parties to it. However, in view of the representations now being made to him and in view of the representations being made throughout the country as a result of this agreement would the Minister not contact the TUI again with a view to ensuring that games again becomes a subject on the curriculum of all the schools? Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke Mr. R. Burke: I will certainly convey to the union in question the desire expressed by the Deputies that games should be undertaken in all schools. Dáil Éireann 278 Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. Vocational Schools Games. Questions 19750211
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