Elementary Schools Question

I don't know about Ireland, but there are plenty of schools lacking materials and supplies here in the USA........

. I know here in the states, we can make a quick trip to Target,
Walmart or The Dollar Tree

Pretty sure they have discount stores in Ireland, too. Maybe look at donating to your nearest inner city school, first.

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The schools in Ireland are not in need of donated supplies. They have an excellent school system and even, gasp, offer free post secondary tuition to their citizens.... I would concentrate on donating to your local school which I am sure needs a lot more help

Our European friends are likely amazed to know that in the US, many school districts are so woefully underfunded that it is common for teachers to spend quite a bit of their own money to pay for basic school supplies, especially for poorer students.

Considering this for 2017: In another blow to the state's lackluster reputation on schools, South Carolina ranked dead last in the education category in U.S. News & World Report's inaugural ranking of all 50 states. Your educational supply money might be better spent at home.

I am sure you have the very best of intentions. But please know that Europe, Western Europe especially, is in many ways more advanced than much of the US in its educational quality and standards. And public transportation. And social services. And in providing living wages.

So please enjoy your visit as a tourist. And if you do want to do good in the world, donate to reputable charities and/or reach out in your local community on ways that you can give your time - which is often more valuable and needed than money or donations.

The Irish children I've talked to are knowledgeable, engaged and seem exceptionally well educated. Far far better than the local "honor students" I've had to hire here in the states who think Columbus was a bad man "probably because he was Hitler's friend"......or the "top student" who asked "Do people not like that flag (confederate battle flag) because it's from Canada ?" or the fact that none of them........all "honor students" mind you, cannot read a clock with hands........Or make change on their own.......or come within 100 years of the founding of our country or know who fought in the civil war. I would bet my house that less than 10% of graduating seniors locally could even find Ireland on a map.

Please donate your time to local communities here in the US. They don't need your money......they need a massive overhaul and involved parents and community members willing to donate time and demand a better result. These are smart, intelligent kids who are raised to be ignorant.......and its a crime.

Sorry......I hate to see these amazing lives lost.

As a retired teacher who had to spend hundreds of dollars of my own money each year on basic school supplies I appreciate your question Darlinda.
Here is something to consider. I cannot speak to all of Ireland, but I do have insight specific to Dingle schools.
When we were in Dingle our guide ( who lives there) told us there are an ever- increasing number of immigrants moving into Dingle , most for jobs in the “service industry”. The local school board made a policy that all instruction in the local schools would be in Irish. The immigrant parents had appealed to have some instruction offered in English and the request was denied. Having taught immigrant students in the US for 25+ years, this raised deep concerns for me. Most of the customers those immigrants will serve will have English as the “ go to “language. University qualifying exams will be in English. I could go on, but you get the point. It is a system that will perpetuate limited opportunities for improved social/ educational/ economic for those immigrants.
So I would say that if you want to sow a few seeds of goodness while in Dingle take along some English picture dictionaries ( or similar resources). Offer them to your hotel maid, waitress etc if you find out he/ she is a recent immigrant to Dingle. Adults as well as kids can benefit from this.

Darlinda,

There's SO much inaccurate information on this stream!

I'm sitting yards away from the Principal of the local school, as it happens. Here's the scoop:

University is NOT free in Ireland. It is means tested, so "poor" students get free tuition. The waitress here told me her son's fees (not tuition) ran 6,000 euros last year. So even free tuition isn't free.

She also said YES a school would love supplies! Whose wouldn't?

Darlinda, as I don't know WHY you want to donate to a school, I won't presume it's for the reasons some have already stated. Maybe you donate to a school because you're a teacher, yourself? Maybe because you'r great grandparents went to school in Ireland?? It doesn't really matter, does it? You want to donate to a school in Ireland, and I can't imagine (nor can the educator near me) any school not appreciating your donations.

And for the record - the nearest "discount" store from me is 55 miles...... so though we are not a "developing country" (the official term for what some of these posters call a third world country) it's not all Apple Computer and Alcon Pharmaceuticals like the big cities......

Susan
Expat living in Waterville/Skellig Coast