Report of Conference 2004.

The 20th Annual Conference of PACCS was held over the weekend of 5th and 6th March, 2004 in The Two Mile Inn Hotel, Limerick.

Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, Education Spokesperson for the Labour Party officially opened Conference by welcoming everyone to the Mid West Region. She referred to the theme of our Conference as both interesting and timely.  While she did not have children in the System at present she was very much involved with the issues.  She went on to say that it is important that we focus on this partnership.  A recent OECD report puts more and more focus on 3rd Level and the whole idea of buying and selling education. We must also guard against the danger of separating our young people, as some schools are creaming and cherry picking and it is important that all schools should have a broad spread.  She went on to speak of Guidance and Third Level Fees.  We must look to our Northern European neighbours, as it would seem that we are getting closer to Boston than to Berlin.  Ms. O Sullivan concluded by saying that if we want a good country we must spend on education.

The President, Gerard Horgan, thanked her for performing the official part of the Conference and he referred to the NEPS Survey, which we are in the process of completing, and the Third Level Fees as an issue we had dealt with during the past year.

Valerie Burke chaired the next session.

The business of Conference then began with the Minutes of Conference 2003, Treasurer’s Report, Secretary’s Report, and a Report from the PRO.

This concluded the business of Friday evening.  A Supper Buffet followed in the Hotel.

Grace Mooney chaired the first session on Saturday.

After Registration on Saturday morning the address of welcome was given by Humphrey O’Riordan, Vice President of PACCS.  On behalf of the PACCS Executive he welcomed everyone to Conference.  He assured the delegates, observers and guests that they would find PACCS a particularly welcoming group.  He referred to the theme and went on to say that we must ensure that our children are equipped with a ‘can do’ and caring attitude.  Re referred to Fr. Harry Bohan who would address Conference in the afternoon, to Parental Representation and the Jack O’Brien report.
Humphrey went on to say that the ADC was the most important period of our year.  The motions decide policy and we do our best to try to achieve success.  He said it was an opportunity to make new friends, renew acquaintances and he hoped we would leave with our heads buzzing with what had been learned.

The workshops then followed:
Health Matters for Teenagers – Kate Fahey
Listening Skills – Mary Murtagh
Special Needs – a Parent’s prospective – Grace Mooney
Parents regaining their influence – Jim Jackman

After workshops and Coffee break Jim Jackman introduced our President who gave his address.

He began by saying that he despised the president’s address becoming boring so he planned to interact with the delegates.  He welcomed the new members and said that at some stage everybody had been in the same position and parenting is like riding a bicycle – if we make mistakes we will start again.

Last year he had referred to the feel good factor and he said he would refer to this again this year.  He referred to our values, attitudes, beliefs and aspirations.  It is the child’s interest we have at heart and in referring to communication he said that this was very evident in last night’s session. He also referred to inclusion.
Affiliations are up by 20% and this if used, as a benchmark is a cause for celebration.  We are an open and transparent organisation.

He went on to speak of the Parent/Teacher meetings and Sustaining Progress.  PACCS had surveyed parents on this but the Department of Education & Science had not utilised the findings of the survey.

The Complaints procedure, which we felt was nearing conclusion at last year’s conference, had gotten bogged down.

He spoke of the NEPS Survey and gave some of its findings, the rest he would give in the afternoon.

He concluded by acknowledging the great team at National Executive and said it has been an honour and privilege to work with them.  He concluded by paying tribute to his own Parent Association and particularly the support of his partner Breda and his family.

Standing Orders were ratified and a roll taken of all the delegates present.

Some motions were then taken.  Jim Jackman chaired this session.  Conference broke for lunch at 12.45 and resumed at 2.00 p.m.

The afternoon session began with the Keynote address by Fr. Harry Bohan.  Jim Jackman introduced him.  He referred to people in authority letting our children down, the priests, politicians and Gardai.  He asked who is minding our kids and said a few years ago there were industrial schools.  He asked the question of Conference as to what we had now, and if what we produced when we went out to work was more important than rearing our children. Re referred to the numbers of kids who returned home to an empty house and indeed to an empty fridge. He also spoke of how small the world was becoming due to communication and ease of travel.

Questions from the delegates and observers followed.

After our final Coffee Break the conference resumed with the ratification of the incoming PACCS Executive: Connie Carolan chaired this session.

Dublin:    Valerie Burke, Ballinteer
        Jim Jackman, Coolmine
        Grace Mooney, Palmerstown
        Teresa Byrne, Rosmini
        Joyce Timms, St. Killian’s, Bray.
There is one further position to be filled by the Region

Southern:    Humphrey O’Riordan – Millstreet
        Pat Murphy, Boherbue
        Catherine O’Donovan, Bishopstown

Mid-West:    Noel McGrath – John the Baptist
Two further names to be advised.

South East:    Margaret Molloy – Gorey
        Margaret Donohue – Gorey

Donegal, West and North East Regions to advise two names each.

Conference then elected the President for the coming year.

Humphrey O’Riordan was proposed Pat Murphy and seconded by Grace Mooney.  Since there were no other nominations, Humphrey was elected.  He addressed Conference briefly.

There were some short comments on the workshops. A full report from each would be available in our Newsletter.

Kate Fahey chaired the next session and the remaining motions were taken.  There were thirty motions plus one emergency motion.  One was withdrawn and the rest were carried successfully with amendments to 1.5,4.1, 6.4 and 9.1.

Open forum concluded the Conference.  Comments included taking constitutional motions on the Friday night, changing from Friday/Saturday to Saturday/Sunday, Book Schemes, and School Policy.

Conference was then concluded.