Sunday, January 23, 2011

Pamela Louderback, Day 91

Friday came much too quickly.  It seems the days are going at a much faster pace now that my time is short.  Today, I visited two Irish Medium primary schools.  The first school I visited was Bunscoil Phobal Feirste.  This is the school that Colm Mac Aindreasa (of St Mary's and Kelly's Cellars fame) and eight other children attended.  As noted in earlier posts, in the late 1960's a group of Irish speaking families set up an urban Gaeltacht on Shaw's Road (near the Falls Road area). 

In 1971, parents from that area decided to start a school for their children and Bunscoil Phobal Feirste began with nine children.  It was community built and supported for the first thirteen years, not receiving any funding from the state.  In 1978, a full immersion nursery program was introduced and the number of students grew every year.  This was a momentus step in the history of the school as English speaking families could enroll their children from teh age of three in a immersion program.  This program develops the foundation in linguistic skills which allows the child to fully accesss the curriculum in the Primary schools.

Finally, in 1984, Bunscoil Phobal Feirste was awarded official maintained status.  Bunscoil Phobal Feirst is the flagship school in the Irish Medium sector and a model from which all subsequent schools was created.  In September 2009 the BBC broadcast a program which was made in honor of th first nine pupils in the school.  It follows the progress which has been made douring the years from 1971 until today.  Colm was gracious enough to give me a copy of the program.

In 2000 Bunscoil Phobal Feirste moved from the original prefab building of the 1970's into the new state of the art building facility.  It is quite an impressive site from the original.  In 2002, the nursery school, Naíscoil Bhreandain, was opened on the same site.  The school is comprised of fourteen classrooms, resource areas, a large sports hall (gymnasium), a medical room, a cnetral library, and attractive welcoming foyers and offices.  In the foyer, painted on the wall leading to the classrooms, is a mural that depicts the first nine children in honor and remembrance of what was achieved.  There are also two outdoor play areas.  Each classroom has its own cloakroom and toilet area with access to the purpose-built resource areas that are grade specific for each Rand. 

After interviewing the principal, (Deirdre Nic Suibhne) and receiving a tour -- she drove me to the next Bunscoil on my list for the day -- Bunscoil an tSiebhe Dhuibh.  A staff member who usually drives the van to the Whiteside swimming pool had called in sick, so when I arrived, the principal was off-grounds pitching in with that duty.  Margaret, the Administrative assistant, offered me some tea and I waited for the principal to return.  When the principal, Roisin Ni Ghadhra, returned -- she invited me along for the return trip.  I was fortunate to do so given that the original setting for the Bunscoil an tSiehe Dhuibh was actually where the pool now stood.  It is a sobering and humbling experience to think of the community struggle, support and sacrifice that continues to take place -- of parents who are so committed to making sure their children can speak the Native language.  Young people who went through the Bunscoil and Gaelscoil system are now teachers at the Bunscoils.  And administrators are those who went through Bunscoil Phobal Feirste.  As some individauls become Principals of new schools, Vice Principals become Principals -- almost a domino affect of positions being filled. 

Bunscoil an tSiebhe Dhuibh is a newer school, on a smaller scale than the Bunscoil Phobal Feirste, and was started by one of the original nine.  It's situated on Whiterock Road, off the Falls Road.  There is a circular courtyard in the middle of the grounds where children play.  Around the courtyard sits the classrooms and resource areas and teachers are able to keep an eye on children playing in the courtyard.  As well, the architeture is such that the mountains in the background are a part of the building structure and able to be viewed through the courtyard.  The school was constructed in 2007 and a nursery school, Naíscoil Bhreandain, is in what was once the original school (a prefab building).  

The taxi ride home was enjoyable as I got to talk with a gentleman from the Falls Road area.  He opted to go an alternate route through the two hospitals of Belfast to avoid the Shankill Road area.  It was a stark contrast to the Value Cab ride I had earlier getting to the Bunscoil Phobal Feirste.  The cabbie had never heard of the school, was not familiar with where it was - even though I had the address, and my fare was almost twice as much!  Paul, my cabbie from the Falls Road was well aware of how to navigate the city of Belfast and was a much more interesting and witty conversationalist.  I almost hated that the ride was so short!   

No comments:

Post a Comment