Kildare primary school pupils get no homework on Taoiseach's orders
Student council from Scoil an Linbh Íosa, Prosperous visit Dáil to question Taoiseach Micháel Martin
Primary school students from Prosperous were delighted last Wednesday, May 13 when the Taoiseach told them they would have no homework that evening.
He was responding to Deputy Aidan Farrelly who had just revealed to the Dail that the student council from Scoil an Linbh Íosa was in the public gallery. He explained that he had been given a question to read out by the student council.
“Those students have written this question. I am merely reading it out for them. It is their words.”
“We do enough work in school. Our teachers agree. Children, families and teachers are so busy in the evenings. We want to promote well-being and nurture our hobbies and skills as children.
“There is no expectation that adults bring their work home, so why must children? Will this Government consider putting an end to homework for primary school children?”
Chuckling, the Taoiseach rose to his feet in the Government benches.
“When I was Lord Mayor of Cork, one of the great privileges I had was to give a half day and give the homework off. Unfortunately, the Department of Education came down on that practice after I left my job as Lord Mayor of Cork.”
He admitted that “the teacher in me says that doing the odd bit of homework reinforces the message and makes sure that students have picked up and absorbed what was taught in the class.”
But he added: “The students asked that question to me as Taoiseach rather than as a teacher, however.”
Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy, acknowledged that “It was a very good question”.
And she added: “For this evening, from both the Taoiseach and I, combined…..” she started.
“The homework is off,” Taoiseach Michael Martin finished her sentence.
There were great cheers from the students in the public gallery.
In total 14 students from Scoil an Linbh Iosa visited Leinster House that day at the invitation of Deputy Farrelly: Joseph Davies, Conor Carpenter, Kiame Zydb, Jack Shiels, Amy Enright, Ollie Darcy, Riley Carew King, Shona Keane, Tom Cassidy, Noah Keane, Tom Lyons, Will Faye, Kate Cassidy and Ruby Leigh Dunne, along with their teachers Eilis Cox, Pamela Fletcher and Gillian Jackman.
“They were from third to sixth class. We regularly invite student councils from various schools into the Dail. We’ve had six or seven in since I was elected.”
It was a lucky day for the students. In a stroke of good fortune, Deputy Farrelly was one of a small few TDs who came through a lottery system to address the Dail during QPL (Questions on Policy or Legislation).
“It basically means you can ask the Government anything at all! So, I asked the students, if you could ask the Taoiseach anything at all, what would it be?
“We had a great chat with them. They wanted to speak about everything from sports, finance and the cost of living. But ultimately, democratically, they decided they wanted to raise the issue of homework.
“They felt it impacting on their spare time, but also their families as well because everyone is so busy these days with after school activities.”