Day 8 - Kells

          Today, our group of four—Teddy, Jason, Hannah, and myself—began our day by meeting with Ian (Student Engagement Officer) for a check-in and brief discussion about the event we were headed to in Kells.  Ian then drove, taking us with him in his Toyota sedan, and we discussed more on the way to St Ciaran’s Secondary School.  The school was in Kells, a rural area, approximately 65 km North of Maynooth, and about a 45 min drive.  The road to Kells was uncrowded, possibly because it was a toll road, and Ian had to stop twice to pay € 1.40 each time.  (Driving to the left in a rotary/traffic circle was odd!)  Additionally, he had to pay to park at the school as well.  I inquired about the large lettered decals I saw on some vehicles and learned that those learning to drive display an “L” on both the front and back of their vehicle and must have a licensed driver aboard; those newly licensed display an “N” for two years, on the front and back of the vehicle, letting other drivers know that they are still a ‘novice.’

Arriving at St Ciaran’s, a public high school, the Principal greeted us and showed us to the teacher’s lounge where it was conveniently break time for both students and faculty.  The lounge was a spacious social hub with large workspace tables front and center (or should I type centre?) as well as a food area table near the back and approximately five computer carrels along one wall.  There I met a student teacher who had the unique challenge of not being a student but also not being one of the regular full-time faculty either.  He had attended the school as a student so a few of the 6th year students knew him but he was assisting with some of the other grades.  I was excited to meet an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher there as well.  She teaches German and ESL and was originally from Croatia.  She said that in the past, many people came from Poland and other Eastern European countries for work and better economic opportunities, but in the recent past, her students have dwindled to the current four for ESL.  I asked her if she worried about her job if she has just four students, but she said ‘no’ because she can pick up German courses to teach and she is permanent so they will just give her other work. 

Ian was at the last minute picking our brains for how his presentation could be optimally interactive as he saw about 200 students rolling out four-person mobile convertible folding benches and sitting down.  The students pitching in to roll out their seating struck the other interns as odd, but not me because my son attends a [Quaker] Friends School and each student will get a Crazy-Creek-style chair out of a bin to sit on during an assembly and then return it afterward.  What did surprise me was the style of the seating as it was a fold-out.  A quick google search shows that Sico in the U.S. makes something similar for schools.  At any rate, Hannah and I quickly tried to think; she thought of a beach ball with questions on it and the audience batting it around, but we did not have a beach ball.  She also mentioned students stepping forward if they answered certain questions, and I suggested having students stand up if they fit the description of the question being asked, a take-off of ‘step into the middle if.’  Ian did try a variation of this, but he had student begin by standing and then sit down if they answered a question a certain way.  At first it was hard to see who was sitting down, but by the end when there were just a few still standing who did not know if college would be the place for them, he recognized them for being brave and standing their ground.  Ian’s presentation ended up being interactive because he himself is very active, both in voice and action.  I thought he did a good job of connecting with students by having them raise their hands to identify with questions and so forth.  He spoke about opportunities available as one goes on to college.  He had a lot of points and sub-points, used striking images in his presentation, and wrapped back to the topic again by the end.  All in all, I think students went away with some useful information, and I think Hannah found a thing or two to incorporate in her transition work.

On the way back, we stopped at the Hill of Tara, passage tombs underground, of the High Kings of Ireland, resulting in concentric circle mounds above ground.  The nearly 360 degree panoramic view was worth seeing.  Hannah took a photo, and the enhancement feature did not change the photo as it naturally had the bluest of the blue sky and greenest of the green grass.

After returning to Maynooth University, we had a look at the Social Justice Week exhibition, on loan from Direct Provision and in the Iontas building, of an actual cramped room set-up that an asylum seeking family would live in while they are awaiting a decision on their application.  Ian also showed us in the Arts Building the campus ‘Quiet Room’ which is really a silent prayer room.  We spoke a bit about campus social space for students as Ian thinks students need more social spaces but the higher-ups at Maynooth University do not seem to think it a priority.  The sofas and tables in the Arts Building were apparently reluctantly put in and bolted down to deter theft and moving them around.  When the furniture wore out and needed to be replaced after five years, it sounds like those in charge were not too happy.  In another area, microwaves and electric teapots were behind a roll-down metal shutter as the school leaders thought them being abused and did not make them available.  I mentioned how at my institution commuter students were coming for a class and staying for a second class, often with a lot of time in-between, so the school put some small tables and chairs on each floor near the elevator for students to use.  For the most part, this furniture is used and respected.

Finally, we did a bit more research and then ended the day as we began with a check-in meeting, this time with both Ian and Shay (Chaplin). Shay was just then emailing the University President some past quotes and a reminder to get the word out about next week’s Social Justice Week.  It was interesting to me that this announcement did not originate with the President but rather Shay was telling him what to include in his email blast to the entire campus.  Additionally, Hannah and I were able to boost the Maynooth University Social Justice Week Facebook page and get some new dialogue threads going.

I felt like today I was able to provide my placement department with compare and contrast tips and ideas.  I provided Ian with feedback about his presentation and the exhibition.  I also provided him with a listening ear and some suggestions for student social space on campus.  Tomorrow, Hannah and I will create a post-event evaluation survey for the Social Justice Week events. 

Today, quite possibly, was a day in which I gained more than I gave.  Although I contributed a great deal, I really learned a lot from the visit to the secondary school in Kells, its culture, its practices, its people—both students and faculty—and continued interactions with Ian, Shay, and Maynooth University campus spaces.  Professionally, I plan to share about the mobile folding benches, the general message of opportunity, the visual of the Direct Provision exhibition, and tintup.com which is a social media feed.