The Irish Times, OpEd, Aug 21st 2015, Joe Humphreys writes:

There was once a time when popularity was viewed as suspect. “Popular culture”, for example, was what you called stuff that people liked but was generally rubbish. It was distinguished from actual culture, which people had to learn to appreciate and which could be measured by objective standards.

Similarly, popular – or populist – governments were what you called jingoistic if not dangerously nationalistic entities which pandered to citizens’ basest instincts. The Brazilian educator Paulo Freire captured some of the wariness of a previous generation of populism when he said: “The multitude is always in the wrong.”

For more read:

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/you-may-not-like-this-article-if-you-re-fond-of-clickbait-and-popular-culture-1.2323243

The Irish Times, feature, Sat Aug 15th:

We’re only about 2,500 years behind the Greeks but Philosophy is finally making it on to the school curriculum. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment is drafting plans for a short course in the subject to be introduced as part of the new Junior Cycle curriculum.

It comes as a fresh wave of research highlights the benefits of philosophy for children (or “P4C”). A study at Durham University of 3,000 pupils in 48 state primary schools published last month associated P4C with significant gains in children’s literacy and maths scores, and even improved conduct.

For more read:

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/philosophy-the-subject-that-improves-children-s-literacy-numeracy-and-conduct-1.2317084

The Irish Times, OpEd, Fri Aug 14th, Joe Humphreys writes:

A hazard of this time of year is bumping into parents bragging about how many points their children got in the Leaving Cert. It’s not just distasteful, it’s ignorant because it assumes their little darlings deserved what they got.

Anyone who is on nodding terms with reality will know that you don’t get what you deserve in life. Some people are born with severe disabilities. Others suffer physical or psychological damage as they grow up. Others inherit a handy set of genes, and are raised in stable homes where there’s ample money for summer tuition and maths grinds.

http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/time-for-government-to-stand-up-for-equality-in-education-1.2316309