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It's official, History will be a mandatory junior cycle subject!

18/2/2020

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History will be a mandatory Junior Cycle subject in all post-primary schools from September 2020.


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'Special status' for junior cycle history, a false promise?

16/2/2020

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Days since 'special status' announced for JC History. No plan to fulfill this promise has been produced.
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Special status planned for history in junior cycle

2/10/2019

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Very good news!

The Irish Times
​https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/special-status-planned-for-history-in-junior-cycle-1.4035519
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History as core in the media

1/8/2018

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Barry Roche, The Irish Times, History needs to play a greater role in society, says Martin, 28 September 2018. 
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Ronan McGreevy, The Irish Times, Micheál Martin slates removal of history from core curriculum, 18 August 2018.

Gillian O'Brien, RTÉ Brainstorm, ​Why history should remain compulsory for Junior Cycle, 30 July 2018.
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Anne Marie Flynn,The Mayo News, Lest we forget, 17 July 2018.

Liam Whelan, University Times, The Removal of Compulsory History in Secondary School is a Tragedy for Irish Education, June 25 2018.

John Connell, The Journal.ie, The past isn't the past, it's not even over: We can't discard Junior Cert History, 5 May 2018.

Darragh Bermingham, The Evening Echo, Teachers appeal for history to remain a core subject in Junior Cycle, 8 May 2018.

Diarmaid Ferriter, The Irish Times, Higgins is right that history should be compulsory for Junior Cert, 5 May 2018.

Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland, ​Speech at the launch of the Cambridge History of Ireland, 30 April 2018.

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Leaving cert history students need more time

12/6/2018

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​Every year, normally on the second Wednesday in June, the Leaving Cert History exam takes place. Higher Level students have 2 hours 50 minutes to answer a documents based question and three long essay questions.

​A top, or even 'middle-of-the-road' grade cannot be achieved without an extensive amount of writing. From the first minute to the last, the exam is a writing marathon run at a sprinting pace.

Granted, extended writing is a fundamental skill of History. It is important that young historians can produce essay type answers that show not just a dept of knowledge but also an ability to think independently. However, in setting this challenge, the State Examinations Commission should ensure sufficient time is allocated.

In the immediate aftermath of the exam, History students, hands still aching and fingers numb, commonly and justifiably complain that more time was needed. Students have to 'hit the ground running' with little or no time for essay planning and review of answers. The time allocated for the Higher Level Leaving Cert History exam should be increased from 2 hours 50 minutes to at least 3 hours.

A 3 hour exam would bring History into line with a number of other exams. Higher Level Business Studies, Engineering, Biology, Construction Studies, Design and Communication Graphics, Accounting, Physics and Chemistry are all 3 hour exams. The amount of writing required for History is, at the very least, comparable to the aforementioned exams.

The State Examinations Commission should consider allocating at least 10 extra minutes to the Higher Level Leaving Cert History exam. This would be a fair and equitable move. It would in no way compromise the integrity of the exam. It would have a positive impact on student wellbeing. Indeed, the student voice should be heard. Students should be consulted. What are their views on the time allocated to history? That consultation should begin at 4.51 pm tomorrow.

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Teachers appeal for history to remain a core subject in Junior Cycle

9/6/2018

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Evening Echo, 8th May 2018: Teachers appeal for history to remain a core subject in Junior Cycle
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Assessment Guidelines for Junior Cycle History

9/6/2018

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View and download the Assessment Guidelines for Junior Cycle History
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Why all kids should study history...

2/12/2017

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New junior cycle history specification [With less learning outcomes!]

20/10/2017

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Click here to view the new specification for junior cycle history

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Junior cycle history format ‘will turn students off’

26/5/2017

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Irish Examiner, May 10th 2017- Junior cycle history format ‘will turn students off’

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Cork HTA Report on the Junior Cycle History Draft Specification

26/5/2017

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Read here: ​Cork HTA report on the junior cycle history draft specification

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Draft Specification for Junior Cycle History

29/3/2017

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Read here: junior cycle history draft specification

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Cork HTA: Junior Cycle History as core. Misconceptions arising from replies by Senators and TDs

13/3/2017

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Junior Cycle History as core. Misconceptions arising from replies by Senators and TDs https://t.co/t81NVGNYql #edchatie #CorkHTA #LCHist pic.twitter.com/rzBqZVV9jc

— Cork HTA (@corkhtai) March 13, 2017
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Junior Cycle History Consultation, Cork HTA Response

9/12/2016

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NCCA

Junior Cycle history background paper and brief

Cork HTA response 

This report should be read by every person or group who has a stake in the teaching and learning of history in Ireland #LCHist #edchatie https://t.co/wklX0X6NwB

— History Matters 365 (@Hist_Matters) November 28, 2016
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History Matters 365 article in the Journal.ie

7/5/2013

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Column: We need to produce a generation of independent thinkers – history is the key

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    History Matters 365 Blog

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    Christian O'Connor, history teacher, St. Mary's Secondary School, Mallow, Co. Cork.

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