Teacher Preparation in Ireland: History, Policy and Future Directions (Emerald Studies in Teacher Preparation in National and Global Contexts)

Fifty years ago, in 1967, free education was introduced in Ireland for attendance at second-level schools and great expansion of provision of education at both this and third-level followed. Currently, great interest is developing in this landmark development in Irish history, which was probably the most significant initiative taken in regard to education in Ireland from Independence from Britain in 1922 to the present. This book contributes to the interest generated by this landmark anniversary by tracing the history of teacher preparation in Ireland. It relates to the introduction to the ‘free education’ education scheme introduced in 1967, in that it provides an exposition on the nature of teacher preparation for teaching in primary and second-level schools both before and after the initiative was taken. Thus, it traces the history of teacher preparation through a number of stages; from education for nation-building in the new post-colonial society to partaking in the recent neo-liberal agenda sweeping through education systems throughout the world. This book should be of interest not only to Irish educationists, historians and policy makers, but also to their counterparts internationally, as well as to comparative educationists. It can be seen as providing an exposition which can be used by teacher educators in many parts of the world which they can use to sharpen their perceptions of their own situations through comparison and contrast, provoke ideas for critical discussion, and stimulate them to come to an understanding of the importance of considering contemporary developments within their wider historical contexts. The Fate of Teacher Education during the Economically Depressed Years from the Late 1970s to the Late 1980s -- Conclusion -- Chapter 6 Teacher Preparation: 1991-2011 -- Introduction -- The 1991 OECD Review of National Policies for Education in Ireland -- The Government's Green Paper, Education for a Changing World (1992) -- The Report on the National Education Convention (1994) -- The 1995 Government White Paper, Charting our Education Future -- The Education Act (1998) -- The Teaching Council Act (2001) -- Reviews of the Approaches to the Preparation of Teachers for both the Primary and Post-Primary School Sectors -- The Teaching Council and the Re-Conceptualisation of the Initial Preparation of Teachers and of the Induction of Beginning Teachers -- Conclusion -- Chapter 7 Initial Teacher Preparation: 2012-2017 -- Introduction -- Influences from Outside of Ireland that had an Impact on Programmes for the Initial Preparation of Teachers -- Developments in Relation to the Focus of Initial Teacher Preparation -- Developments Undertaken in Relation to the Structures within which Teacher Preparation was to Take Place -- Conclusion -- Chapter 8 Current Developments and Future Trends -- Introduction -- The Teaching Council and the Provision of Teacher Preparation across the Continuum -- The National Department of Education and Skills and Continuing Professional Development for Serving Teachers -- The Special Education Support Service -- Other Developments -- Some Challenges for Teacher Preparation across the Continuum -- Challenges Relating to Policy on Teacher Preparation as Public Policy -- The Teaching Council - Agent of the Department of Education and Skills or Autonomous Body? -- Continual Improvement in the Preparation of Teachers -- The Universitisation of Teacher Education -- Deregulation of Teacher Preparation -- References -- Index Front Cover -- Teacher Preparation in Ireland -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- About the Authors -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- An Overview of the History of Teacher Preparation in Ireland -- The Stimulus for Writing this Book -- The Research Approach -- The Structure of the Book -- Chapter 2 The Broad Historical Context -- Introduction -- The Irish Education Context up to 1922 -- The Broad International Context -- Teacher Preparation in Ireland up to 1922 -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3 The Preparation of Primary School Teachers: 1922-1967 -- Introduction -- General Developments in Primary School Education -- The Preparatory Colleges -- The Primary School Teacher Training Colleges -- Teacher Preparation for the Education of Infants -- The Provision of Professional Development Courses for Primary School Teachers -- Conclusion -- Chapter 4 The Preparation of Teachers for Second-Level Schools: 1922-1967 -- Introduction -- General Developments in Second-Level Education -- The Preparation of Teachers to Teach the Majority of Secondary School Subjects -- General Developments in the Preparation of Teachers to Teach Vocational and Technical Subjects -- The Preparation of Teachers of Physical Education and Music -- The Provision of Continuing Professional Development Courses for Teachers -- Conclusion -- Chapter 5 Teacher Preparation: 1966-1990 -- Introduction -- Change in Irish Society from the Late 1950s to the Late 1970s -- Changes in Primary School Teacher Preparation in the 1960s and 1970s -- Changes in the Preparation of Teachers in the University Education Departments in the 1960s and 1970s -- Changes in the Preparation of Teachers in the Non-University Sector for Teaching in the Second-Level Education Sector during the 1960s and 1970s -- The Provision of Continuing Professional Development This study of teacher preparation policy and practice in Ireland from Independence in 1921 to the present, highlights, within an international context, the extent to which the focus of preparation moved from nation-building until 1967, when free second-level education was introduced, to one concerned with improving the country’s human capital.