Secret Diary of an Irish teacher: Is it time to take religion out of the classroom?

"I wonder how many parents are aware that they’re still considered to be the primary educators of their children. How many reflected on that when they navigated seesaw and zoom from home. I know I didn’t. I know on that front, I’m happy to leave schooling to educators and everything else to us at home."

Secret Teacher: I always felt a bit cheated when my kids had their first day at school. I’d imagined, before having them, that I’d get to cry at the school gate, spend my morning consoling myself in my empty nest — folding their little dinosaur pyjamas, looking wistfully at the empty garden swing.

I always felt a bit cheated when my kids had their first day at school. I’d imagined, before having them, that I’d get to cry at the school gate, spend my morning consoling myself in my empty nest — folding their little dinosaur pyjamas, looking wistfully at the empty garden swing.

I got none of that. We’ve never had much of a garden. And I was always far too busy getting to work on time to wallow in nostalgia.