This book examines the radical reform that occurred during the final two decades of British rule in Ireland when William Starkie (1860–1920) presided as Resident Commissioner for the Board. Following the lead of industrialized nations, Irish members of parliament sought to encourage the establishment of a state-funded school system during the early nineteenth century. The year 1831 saw the creation of the Irish National School System. Central to its workings was the National Board of Education which had the responsibility for distributing government funds to aid in the building of schools, the payment of inspectors and teachers, the publication of textbooks, and the cost of teacher training. In the midst of radical political and cultural change within Ireland, visionaries and leaders like Starkie filled an indispensable role in Irish education. They oversaw the introduction of a radical child-centered primary school curriculum, often referred to as the ‘new education’. Filling a gap in Irish history, this book provides a much needed overview of the changes that occurred in primary education during the 22 years leading up to Ireland’s independence.
Author(s): Teresa O'Doherty, Tom O'Donoghue
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2021
Language: English
Pages: 306
City: Cham
Contents
1 Introduction
The International Background
The National Background
Bibliography
2 The Antiquated Administration of Irish Education
Introduction
The Performance of Key Personnel Within the National Education System
The Belmore Commission
Events Surrounding the Appointment of William Starkie as Resident Commissioner
Bibliography
3 The Revised Programme of Primary Instruction
Introduction
Organizing to Give Effect to the Recommendations of the Belmore Commission
The Treasury
Access to the Treasury
A Private Correspondence with a Treasury Official
Underestimating the Cost of Education Reform
Starkie’s Public Pronouncements on the Benefits of His Plans
Calls for Consultation
Stormy Waters
Starkie’s Second Public Address
The Commissioners’ Objections to Starkie’s Style of Administration
Starkie’s Perspective of His Role as Administrator
Starkie: A Ruthless Administrator?
Bibliography
4 Attempts to Influence Government Policy
Introduction
Starkie’s Position on the Co-Ordination of Irish Education
Motivation
Reaction to the Speech
Reply to Starkie’s Speech
Government Attitudes to the Co-Ordination of Irish Education
Making Bricks Without Straw
The Personal Cost of Starkie’s 1902 Speech
The Dilworth Debacle
A Rickety Board
The Legacy of Starkie’s Address
Annual Reports—A New Channel of Communication
Fiscal Policy—A Tool for Achieving Administrative Reform
A New Direction in the Funding of Irish Education
Bibliography
5 Policy on School Inspection and Visits to Schools
The Dale Report: A Charter for Reform
Immediate Influence of Starkie’s Initial Tour of Schools
Starkie and Dale
Progress: The Advancements Spawned by the Dale Tour
Later Tours of Schools
The Significance of Starkie’s Visits
Policy on Inspection and Relationships with Teachers
Inspector of Schools or Inspector of Inspectors?
Opinions on, and Relationships with, Teachers
Teachers’ Reminiscences
Evolving Views on the Social and Humanitarian Role of Education
Bibliography
6 Continuing Efforts to Improve Irish Primary School Education
Introduction
Making Bricks Without Straw
The Annual Reports—A New Departure
Fiscal Policy—A Tool to Achieve Administrative Reform
Coordination Deferred
A New Direction in the Funding of Education in Ireland
“Our Ancestral Enemy”—The Treasury
Teachers’ Welfare
Bibliography
7 The Inclusion of the Irish Language and Irish History in Primary Schools
The Teaching of Irish history
Starkie’s Identity and the Central Place Afforded to the Irish Language and History on the Curriculum
The Resident Commissioner and the Church
Starkie On Patriotism
8 The Disaffection of National School Teachers and the Establishment of the Dill Committee
Introduction
The Disaffection of the National School Teachers
Teachers—Living in an El Dorado?
Teachers’ Welfare
Teacher Dismissals
Teachers’ Revolt in Belfast and Clonmel
Freedom of Speech
An Inevitable Collision?
The Establishment of the Dill Committee and Starkie’s Evidence
Starkie’s Evidence
The Recommendations of the Dill Inquiry
Implementation of the Recommendations
A Mirror Image?
Bibliography
9 The Commissioners and the Killanin and Molony Inquiries
Introduction
Starkie and His Fellow-Commissioners
The Killanin and Molony Inquiries
The Deterioration of Starkie’s Influence, Personal Life and Health
Depression
The Question of Remuneration
Politics
Starkie’s Physical Decline
The Final Days
Bibliography
10 Conclusion
Bibliography
Index
