Replying To Commodore: "I think we have equal opportunities for education in Ireland, growing up relatively poor in Ireland in the 1980s, I was very fortunate to be able to pursue 3rd level education after my leaving certificate without fees and receiving a monthly grant.
I wouldn't have been able to afford to move further away, even with my part-time job and the grant, and my parents couldn't afford to pay that type of money, and I wouldn't have wanted to put that type of added burden on them. So I stayed local and worked weekends to support myself fully.
The opportunities are definitely there, its not necessarily easy, especially if holding down part-time jobs etc, but we are better off in this regard than many other parts of the world."
Good post.
We're one of the most equal societies on the planet.
People will use any excuse to claim we're not, whereas your own story (and 1000s of others) prove otherwise.
Replying To Freethinker: "That is down to Donogh O'Malley. He introduced second level education for all. Prior to that, second level ed was for the well off. I was born a bit early for it, but my younger siblings benefitted. Anecdotaly, when he floated the idea originally he got no support from the civil service - it was a non runner, too expensive etc. He said, ok, then called a press conference and announced it anyway. Another who passed away too early."
Telling reference to the Civil Service. Professional Irish middle class with private school background has been a huge barrier to progress in genuine equality of opportunity here for 100 years. They produce very few innovators and actively impeded industrial and social development for decades.
Replying To BarneyGrant: "Telling reference to the Civil Service. Professional Irish middle class with private school background has been a huge barrier to progress in genuine equality of opportunity here for 100 years. They produce very few innovators and actively impeded industrial and social development for decades."
I know plenty of people who've come from "disadvantaged" backgrounds and have gone to become very successful because of the opportunities available to them. Opportunities that were available to everyone. What they did have was a work ethic. What they didn't fall back on was a myriad of excuses.
Replying To ThePowerhouse: "I know plenty of people who've come from "disadvantaged" backgrounds and have gone to become very successful because of the opportunities available to them. Opportunities that were available to everyone. What they did have was a work ethic. What they didn't fall back on was a myriad of excuses."
Thats not the point. If you come from a more privileged background it all becomes easier. Equality of opportunity means exactly that, it doesn't mean that you have to be luckier, work harder, or sacrifice more just to get the same success as someone from a more privileged background.
Replying To ThePowerhouse: "I know plenty of people who've come from "disadvantaged" backgrounds and have gone to become very successful because of the opportunities available to them. Opportunities that were available to everyone. What they did have was a work ethic. What they didn't fall back on was a myriad of excuses."
Ah the old bootstrap mantra. The tiny minority of people from disadvantaged backgrounds who become a great success do so in spite of the system not because of it.
Replying To ThePowerhouse: "I know plenty of people who've come from "disadvantaged" backgrounds and have gone to become very successful because of the opportunities available to them. Opportunities that were available to everyone. What they did have was a work ethic. What they didn't fall back on was a myriad of excuses."
You are quite right. I too know many such, but I think tour reply to Barneys post is a mile away from the gist of that post.