🧵 The Primary Ethos Survey is missing one very important option in all three questions. It's the option of "I don't care."

I think this is a massive omission and here's why.

1/8 When you design a survey, you're supposed to capture the full range of responses people might actually have. But this survey assumes everyone has strong feelings about school ethos.

What if they don't?

2/8 The truth is, most people don't care about the ethos of their local school. I know that sounds harsh, but the evidence is all around us.

If parents genuinely cared deeply about religious ethos, things would have changed decades ago.

3/8 We've known for years that most people are not religious. We've known that children are being discriminated against in classes. We've known that opt-out arrangements are inadequate.

And yet, nothing has fundamentally changed. Why? Because most people are fine with it.

4/8 Parents choose schools based on location, reputation, whether their friends' kids go there, the car park situation. The religious ethos is rarely the deciding factor, and for many it's not even a consideration.

5/8 By not including "I don't care" as an option, the survey forces people into expressing opinions they don't actually hold. It manufactures engagement where there might be apathy.

And that's a problem for the data.

6/8 If someone genuinely doesn't care whether their local school is Catholic, multi-denominational, or anything else, they now have to pick an option that suggests they do care.

The results will overstate how much ethos actually matters to people.

7/8 This isn't just a technical survey design issue. It's ideological. The Department seems unable to accept that for most families, school ethos is simply not a priority.

They'd rather force an opinion than acknowledge indifference.

8/8 If the Department was genuinely interested in understanding what parents want, they'd have included the full spectrum of responses, including apathy.

Instead, they've designed a survey that will tell them what they want to hear, not what's actually true.

Survey Omission: "I Don't Care"

1/12 Fr. Paddy has a long running column in the Laois Nationalist. His articles are usually harmless messages of love and hope from a Catholic perspective, universal values that everyone could relate to, even if they don't share his faith. However, this week they took a turn

2/12 As most people know, there is a survey going around asking parents to vote on the types of schools they want for children. It seems to have put all the stakeholders into promotional overdrive mode. Bluntly, I find the survey offensive.

3/12 It's been sold as giving more choice to parents but that's not what is happening. By increasing the number of types of schools, we are increasing segregation. Why would a Muslim choose a Church of Ireland school is a Muslim school existed, for example?

4/12 Anyway, Father Paddy's article this week is a full-on drive to convince parents to "vote" for denominational schools. There are some sentences in it that are, at best, unchristian in their claims:
https://www.laoistoday.ie/2025/11/23/fr-paddy-an-important-survey-from-the-department-of-education/

5/12 For example, this line is misleading. Multidenominational schools are not secular or atheist for that matter. Considering his profile, I struggle to believe that he doesn't know this already. 

6/12 His use of the word sectarian is also misleading. If all schools are multidenominational, then the system is hardly sectarian, because no school is divided along religious lines. 

I'm also baffled by his stance, in which he's not alone, regarding Christian Values.

7/12 Again, I find it interesting that he claims that multidenominational schools would deny parents' Christian Values. He never defines Christian Values. A quick google will tell you that Christian values are 99% universal to all values. 

8/12 The reality is that the gap between what happens in denominational schools and multidenominational schools has narrowed so much that it is only noticeable when discriminatory practices occur, ones no one is comfortable with.

9/12 For example, children sitting at the backs of classrooms and churches, teachers having to pretend to be a particular faith to get a job, parents pressurised to baptise their child so as not to be stigmatised, etc. etc.

10/12 Rather than all the vested interests trying to promote their brand under the illusion of school choice, we really need to consider a different question. Why aren't we looking for a system where all children are included, all day? 

11/12 As I've said, 99% of schools do the same thing and we are so fixated on separating children along the 1% instead of trying to remove the barriers that the 1% creates. It serves no one when schools are in competition with each other.

12/12 As I'm sure Father Paddy would agree, religions and beliefs should be about bringing people together so we can learn from each other. If he believes that those of us who have secular values are in direct contrast to those with christian values, it simply proves my point.

Controversy in Catholic Column

1/10 🧵 €50 per child rise in the capitation grant sounds like something to celebrate, doesn't it?

Well, there's good news and bad news.

2/10 🦸‍♀️ The good news
- Even adjusting for inflation, this is the highest capitation grant in history. The highest grant before (adjusting for inflation) was 2010. It is now 5.8% higher.
- Last year, all schools got €36 as a one-off cost of living grant. €50 is an increase.

3/10 So, the truth is actually this is an increase of €14 but that's probably nitpicking.

The stakeholders had asked for a minimum increase of €75 so we certainly fell short of that?

The question is, are we really better off?

4/10 Let's look at some variables since 2010

The capitation grant is 5.8% higher than 2010's
Electricity costs are relatively 15% higher
Gas is 20% higher
Minimum wages are roughly 9% higher

5/10 Let's take a look at a cleaner's wages if they were on minimum wage in a 200 pupil school working 20 hours per week (I'm being conservative) from January to June, as this was a big worry for principals.

I choose January to June because increase capitation kicks in then.

6/10 Captiation Grant 2024 = €260 (€224+€36) (6 months) = €26,000
Minimum Wage 2024 = €13.50 = €7,020

Captitation Grant 2025 = €274  = €27,400
Minimum Wage 2025 = €14.15 = €7,358

So, it looks like schools might be covered for cleaners. (Phew)

7/10 All told, the government will hail this as a massive increase in the capitation grant even though, in reality, it isn't. 

However, there was worry the lack of cost of living grant disappearing was going to sink quite a number of schools so the new grant absorbs this cost.

8/10 It also gives an extra €14 per child to plug other gaps. Cleaning and other ancillary wages look like they'll be covered.

However, we're still a long way from schools being funded adequately. Any parents that think they won't be asked to fundraise will be disappointed.

9/10 The stakeholders called for a €75 increase, which they calculated based on the needs of their members, so we're €25 per child away from that, which is significant. 

Overall, it's probably better news than we'd expected, but let's not get carried away either.

Capitation Grant Increase Details

I've been collating the response to the launch of the Primary Curriculum all week and I wasn't surprised to note that almost every media response was of a "missed opportunity" more...

While Ireland was already a reasonably diverse country in 1999 when the last curriculum was launched, it's fair to say that society was still influenced by religious dogma. For example:
- LGBT+ relationships were not recognised in any way
- One could only marry in a church or...

...a small registry office
- Women's rights were still restricted
- 98% of primary schools were controlled by religious orders

All of this was changed in the 2010s through referenda, except for schools....

In 2025 we had the opportunity to ensure that every child was treated with the same respect as each other with the new curriculum...and they all baulked.

Rightly, the media has focused much of its coverage on this.

Read this brilliant article ⬇️ .... 
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2025/09/26/paddy-monahan-new-primary-school-curriculum-baulks-at-the-chance-to-get-religion-out-of-the-classroom/

While the people that produced the curriculum are (publically) calling it revolutionary, they know it's been a missed opportunity. Shaving 20% off religious instruction keeps Ireland as the sole country in Europe imposing an ethos of one religious dogma throughout the day...

Much like the Admissions Act in 2018 which only served to move the Baptism Barrier from the school gates and into the classroom (and under the rug), the "solution" of the ERBE subject muddies the waters again...

As Paddy says in his article, in one lesson children will be taught that Christians believe that Jesus was the son of God and in the next that it is a fact that Jesus was the son of God. Yet again, an Irish solution to an Irish problem....

Instead of the main focus being on really interesting new subjects like MFL, STEM and wellbeing, we're back to debating the role of religious control in schools and making it even more complicated....

They also can't say they weren't warned time and time again. Despite all their talk of consultation, they ignored the many people who pointed out that their solution wouldn't work. I'm fairly sure they knew it themselves....

The impact: Another generation of children will be sat at the backs of classrooms until the next opportunity arises. By then it's likely it will be too late. 

Interested in reading a year-by-year incomplete summary of special education cuts since 2009? Read on... 🧵 (Full article: 
https://simonmlewis.substack.com/p/with-the-latest-circular-on-special)

2009
Cut: Government moratorium on recruitment and promotions across the public service from 27 March 2009, constraining staffing in schools and support services.

2010
Stealth: Ongoing post-crash restraint continued to bite in primary education, with management bodies warning of front-line impacts from the 2009 budget decisions. 

2011
Cut: Introduction of a hard cap on Special Needs Assistant posts at 10,575 whole-time equivalents.

2012
Cut: Resource teaching time for many pupils reduced by a cumulative 15 percent.
Stealth: Allocation mechanics changed, including NCSE retaining a portion of hours and adjustments within the General Allocation Model, which some schools experienced as losses relative to need.

2013
Partial reversal but also a stealth: After a public backlash, the Minister reversed the planned cut to resource hours but retained 2012 supports to 2013, while SNA constraints remained.

2014
Stealth: Department confirmed SNA role as care-support, not pedagogical support, narrowing how SNAs could be used limiting flexible learning support.
Stealth: Reporting highlighted that resource hours remained below earlier rules and had not been fully restored.

2015
Stealth: Additional SNA and resource-teaching posts approved, yet demographics kept pressure high. Many schools still reported shortfalls relative to need.

2016
Stealth: Government commissioned a comprehensive review of the SNA scheme that documented widespread parental and school anxiety about reviews and perceived cuts, despite headline growth in posts. The 15% cut to resource hours was baked into the new model.

2017
Stealth: New SET model introduced. Philosophically inclusive, but fixed-profile allocations and reliance on external inputs created winners and losers at school level. The circular locked in previous low-incidence allocations but reduced diagnosis-led access.

2018
Stealth: Ongoing implementation of the 2017 model and continued reviews. NCSE work and research emphasised scheme efficiency, while schools reported anxiety about resource security.

2019
Stealth: National re-profiling of SET hours. Some schools gained, others lost hours, with appeals required. This redistributed support without new entitlements.

2020
Cut by freeze: COVID closures caused a functional halt to in-person support for many pupils. The Department froze mainstream SNA allocations at 2019 to 2020 levels and deferred the new SNA frontloading model.

2022
Stealth: SET circular signalled phased upward or downward adjustments when updating school profiles. Downward adjustments for some schools were framed as model implementation rather than cuts.

2023
Stealth by data failure: Only about 5% of verifiable HSE complex-needs data were returned for the 2023 to 2024 allocations, creating inequities where schools with missing data lost resources relative to need.

2024
Stealth by criteria change: Complex-needs data were removed as an input to the SET allocation model. Advocacy groups and principals warned this would miss many pupils with high needs who perform well on tests. Parliamentary questions and media covered the controversy.

2025
Stealth gatekeeping shift: Circular 0039/2025 introduced an NCSE letter requirement and an early 1 October 2025 notification deadline for parents seeking places for 2026/2027. Framed as planning, it centralises gatekeeping and may add a new barrier for some families.

Complete article with references available: 
https://simonmlewis.substack.com/p/with-the-latest-circular-on-special 


Special Education Cuts Timeline

1/6 Every year I check the Leaving Cert points for primary teaching in DCU.
Every year the result is the same.
You need fewer points if you’re Protestant.

2/6 2025:
🔹 Catholic / All Others → 485 points
🔹 Protestant → 407 points
That’s a 78-point discount. Equivalent to a whole higher-level subject grade.

3/6 The “Faith Factor” in Irish education:
Want to be a teacher? While rooted in a history that no longer exists, being Protestant still saves you more points than a grind ever will.

4/6 Seriously though, when will this temporary arrangement from 2016 when the CICE and St, Pat's amalgamated into DCU stop? It makes no sense to favour one faith and not others? For example, a Muslim student doesn't get beneficial points if they want to work in the Muslim school

5/6 How many more ministers will simple let this inequality continue?

Full spreadsheet since 2016 here: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oTMw05eD8JeblC3clJUb6xH6MMXgoUgj4yqi9mNXTwA/edit?usp=sharing 

1/10: Ever wonder if a non-Catholic teacher can genuinely teach faith in an Irish Catholic primary school? It's not as simple as you think! Opinions are on a fascinating spectrum.  
https://simonmlewis.substack.com/p/beyond-belief-can-a-non-catholic 

2/10: With nearly 90% of Irish primary schools under Catholic patronage, this isn't a niche debate. Thousands of teachers, parents & children are navigating faith formation daily.

3/10: For some devout Catholics (no skin in the game), it's a clear "NO." Faith isn't a subject; it's a way of life. For them, a non-believer providing "formation" is simply absurd. (Video from Robert Nugent)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZyLGGYeKEY 

4/10: Then there are devout Catholics with "skin in the game" (parents, staff). They often agree faith isn't a subject, but practicality (teacher shortages, fear of system collapse) leads to pragmatic, sometimes reluctant, compromise.

5/10: "Cultural Catholics" see religion in schools as Irish culture & heritage, not dogma. For them, Communion is a milestone, not a sacrament. Who teaches it barely matters.

6/10: Many non-Catholics view the whole thing as "meaningless pretence." If it's just going through the motions, why does the teacher's belief matter?

7/10: Surprisingly, many non-Catholics agree with the devout: faith isn't a subject. They see it as disingenuous for someone without belief to teach it.

8/10: My own take, as an atheist & primary teacher, aligns with the devout: true faith demands authenticity an unbeliever simply cannot provide. The idea of me "evangelising" is absurd.

9/10: This ongoing pretence creates dilemmas: for religious teachers feeling mocked, for non-believing parents with limited school choice (often forced into Catholic schools), and for children caught in the middle.

10/10: Ireland's primary school system is stuck in "muddy waters." Fear of change paralyses us, leading to bizarre compromises. I wish I had faith something would change, but I also don't believe in miracles.

Teaching Faith in Ireland

Back in 2018, the government created a circular promoting the Bring Your Own Device craze. Today they are banning it. It's a huge U-turn, it could be argued, with good reason. I asked @NotebookLM to investigate it: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/52bd04a0-a955-4e23-90bb-b3a22e342d3e/ 

Summary:
Who doesn't love a government flip-flop? Remember when the Department of Education was all about fostering "global citizens" and helping young people "participate fully in society and the economy" through digital tech? 

Back in 2018, schools were simply requested to "consult with their school community, including teachers, students and parents regarding the use of children's own smart phones and tablet devices" to develop or update policies. 

Back then, it was all about harnessing the "positive role" digital technologies could play in learning. Most of us realised (eventually) this was a very bad idea and that the government should have been providing money to schools for managed devices.

Fast forward to 2025, and it seems their digital dream has hit a snag. Now, schools are "required to implement a policy to ban the use of and access to, personal mobile phones by pupils for the duration of the school day." 

Was this a grand "U-turn" from promoting "digital competence" to simply "grounding" our students' devices, or is there more to this sudden policy pivot than meets the eye?

All show notes can be found here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1bNswFHs6ngaiW5V64iaSg1tuevRoYwqbMEP3ykbiXeY/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.yvfe1j72drq

Government's BYOD Policy Reversal

You asked for it...

Introducing the Yard Duty Rota Generator after weeks of coding, tweaking, and relentless going around in circles!

Get ready to revolutionise your yard duty management 🌟

Check it out for free: https://anseo.net/yard-duty-timetable-signup/

The app is simple to use. First, you can choose to generate a weekly timetable for the year or divide the year into 3 separate terms

Next, add your staff, including those job-sharing!

Then add in the various yard zones. (If you need more than one person in each area, for example, 2 teachers needed on the basketball court, set up B'ball 1 and B'ball 2 as different zones. This ensures 2 teachers will be assigned the courts.

Set up your yard times... then click GENERATE!

And as if by magic...

You can export the timetable as a PDF or Excel file....but before you do...

You can drag and drop, delete and add staff members around the timetable. In order to make sure everyone is getting a fair number of minutes per week, a handy live tracker shows you who is doing what each week.

Too little or too much, it's marked in red!

You can have as many people on any yard zone as you like. Simply drag and drop them in. With a bit of creativity, you can develop a timetable for any set up. If you're stuck, just ask!

I hope you enjoy the yard duty rota generator. You can get it for free by signing up to my newsletter. If you find it useful, please reply with a testimonial or send me an email.
https://anseo.net/yard-duty-timetable-signup/ 

Yard Duty Rota Generator

What a treat it was to be asked to give a talk in the Irish embassy in Copenhagen! 

It was part of the Jewish Cultural Festival in Denmark
https://jkfestival.dk/program-2025/foredrag-og-debat/poetiske-spor-fra-litauen-til-irland.aspx

I gave a short talk about growing up in the Jewish community in Dublin, my links to the communities in Belfast and Cork (and Cavan, randomly) 

I read some poems from my @doirepress collection, Jewtown and then answered some questions.

It was a lovely evening and I'm very grateful to the Irish Embassy in Denmark for the warm welcome.