Publications - Children and Education

Report and Recommendations for a Traveller Education Strategy

Government Publications
ISBN: 0755717104
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Pavee Point Position Paper on Senior Traveller Training Centres

Pavee Point's position on Senior Traveller Training Centres (STTC's) is that they should be phased out over the next 5 years. Pavee Point understands that such a major change in education policy is bound to create difficulties, challenges and uncertainties for both Travellers and those in teaching and administrative /ancillary positions within the sector.

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DVD for Traveller Parents on Primary School

Pavee Point recently produced a DVD for Traveller Parents on ways to support their children in Primary school. Pavee Parents; Primary Concerns is an Educational tool which stresses the importance of parental involvement and how this involvement enhances a child's education. It also outlines the supports and organisations that are available for Parents.

"Many Traveller parents feel embarrassed visiting schools because of poor literacy. They may not be able to understand the words that are used and they might not be able to read the letters that are sent from the school." said Kathleen McDonnell, a Traveller parent who features in the DVD.

Through a consultation process on Education in 2004 with 450 Travellers throughout Ireland organised by Pavee Point, the National Traveller women's Forum and the Irish Traveller movement, Traveller Parents expressed the need to learn more about the Education system so that they can support their children in school. Many parents found it difficult to approach school personnel and had difficulties enrolling their children in schools. Racist name-calling is a daily experience for many Traveller children and parents expressed frustration at not knowing what steps to take in dealing with these issues.

Pavee Parents, Primary Concerns offers support and advice to Traveller parents who may experience some of these difficulties and presents some of the organisations that are available to parents such as the National Parents Council, the Anti-Bullying Centre and the National Education Welfare Board. There are 8 themes in Pavee Parents, Primary Concerns, these are; Enrolment, Visiting Teacher and Home School Liaison, Communication with Schools, Homework, Attendance, Bullying and Parents Associations. One of the most important messages in this DVD is that Parents are the primary educators with or without high levels of literacy.

Copies are available from Pavee Point Traveller Centre

For Further Information please contact: Jane Rooney
Education Coordinator
Pavee Point
46 North Great Charles St
Dublin 1
Ph + 353 1 8780255 ext 108
Fax + 353 1 8742626
email: education@pavee.iol.ie

Price: €15

Travellers and Education - Leaflet

"Education shall aim at developing the child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to the fullest extent. Education shall prepare the child for an active adult life in a free society and foster respect for the child's parents, his or her own cultural identity, language and values, and for the cultural background and values of others."
Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child

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Report: Roma Educational Needs in Ireland Context and Challenges

by Louise Lesovitch. Published by City of Dublin VEC. 2005. 108 pages.

It is without doubt the case that Roma men, women and children would benefit from targeted educational interventions and supports. A number of interventions documented in the current report attest to this. Yet this fact must be set within the context of one of the chief findings of this report: Provision for the Roma community will not be achieved without considerable attention to cultural and social factors.

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Pavee Children: A Study On Childcare Issues of Travellers

A report exploring the childcare needs of Travellers, setting out the current context for the care of Traveller children in Ireland, Travellers' own views on childcare, and the requirements for provision of childcare facilities for Travellers.

1997 ISBN 1 897598 149 Price: €6.35
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Éist - Respecting Diversity in Early Childhood Care, Education and Training.

This report argues strongly in favour of diversity education in early childhood care, education and training. Examining possible strategies, it concludes that the 'anti-bias' approach is most suited to the needs of all children. This is an approach introduced successfully in other countries and suitable for the Irish context. It can be applied effectively to all areas of potential discrimination such as gender, disability, sexual orientation, age marital status, family status, religion, 'race' and membership of the Traveller community

Price €20.00
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'Respect' - Education Without Prejudice - A Challenge For Early Years Educators in Ireland.

A report on a 1998 conference held by Pavee Point in Dublin Castle. The aim of the conference was to highlight the need to address the issues of racism, discrimination and prejudice in training and practice in the early years sector. In all there were ten speakers, both national and international, including keynote speaker Louise Derman-Sparks. All ten conference papers are presented in this report together with summaries of the delegate's workshop discussions.

Price €6.00
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Travellers: Nomads of Ireland

Designed as a textbook for use in schools, this richly illustrated paperback is an excellent introduction to Traveller culture

Price: €11.40
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Working Transnationally With Gypsies and Travellers: Experiences From Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands

A report on the work of a transnational partnership ('96 - '98) between Pavee Point, the Spanish organisation Gao Lacho Drom, and the Netherlands project Activa, which works with Caravan Dwellers.

In English, Spanish and Dutch. Price: €2.55
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Anti-Bias Curriculum: Tools For Empowering Young Children

The underlying intent of anti-bias education is to foster the development of children and adults to build caring, just, diverse communities and societies for all. The book is a practical guide on just how to achieve this.

ISBN 0-935989-20-X Price: €19.05
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Respect: For Diversity in Early Childhood Care and Education

This CD-Rom is based on the "Quality Target in Service for Young Children " European Commission Network. These targets advocate respect for diversity. This multimedia package is based on the "Anti Bias Curriculum " developed by Lousie Derman Sparks (USA) and on European experiences. It also includes a case study on Travellers.Suitable for Windows 95 or Macintosh System 7.5.

ISBN 90 -73996-12-0 Reduced to €19.00 from the original price: 35. Price €19.00
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Pavee Point Fact Sheet on Traveller Children

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Pavee Point Fact Sheet on Education and Cultural Rights

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Set of Four Eist Jigsaws

This set of four jigsaws represent the lifestyle and culture of Travellers and are for use in the Pre-School and Primary sectors. The photographs on the wooden jigsaws are by renowned photojournalist Derek Speirs and depict aspects of Traveller culture and identity. Available from Lisheen Toys Ltd. Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry, priced at 7 euro each. Ph & Fax: 066 7133436 lisheentoysltd@eircom.net

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