This article is from page 33 of the 2008-11-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 33 JPG
he felt it necessary to have his feelings known when he took part in the teachers and parent’s protest against budget cuts in education.
‘For me it is very clear cut. I am a teacher and at the cold face of it, and long after this has died down as a political issue, for me and other teachers and more importantly the children will be paying the price for months and maybe even years to come,’ said Cllr Crowe.
He said as far as he was concerned there was no conflict of interest in his stance.
“T think it is healthy that I should go out. [ am a Fianna Fail man and wish to stay a Fianna Fail man, but I was elected by the people of this area and this does not sit well with them and it does not sit well with me,’ he
added.
While his own school won’t be af- fected directly by the cuts this year the east Clare councillor has not ruled out crippling affects in the fu- neh ker
‘Down the road new appointments could be affected and class sizes,’ he Cr AKOR
“I think the Government and Fian- na Fail need to rethink this. In mak- ing the necessary cuts you should not touch the young or the elderly.
“We have a very low betting tax and by increasing it by a few more per cent it could net another €100 million.”
Like many more in the profession the young teacher said he has spent his Own money on providing essen- tial materials for the classroom.
‘“T have spent close to €2,500 of my own money to put things in my class room.
“IT bought my own projector and I am out of pocket and I took out a broadband contract that I use for the classroom. This is something that should be in every classroom,” he said. “I am not alone in this. We (teachers) put up with a lot and say very little, but at a time like this we cannot stay quiet anymore,’ said the outspoken councillor.