Facebook question puzzles teachers

Barack Obama's use of text messages to get people to vote in the US presidential campaign and internet safety were among the topical issues that turned up on the Junior Certificate Civic, Social and Political Education (CSPE) paper.

Brendan O'Regan, a spokesman for the Association of CSPE Teachers, gave a broad welcome to the paper, although parts were 'more demanding than usual'.

In the picture question, students may have found it easy to distinguish between President McAleese and Queen Elizabeth, but may have been less familiar with European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso.

Mr O'Regan said the question concerning which government department is responsible for elections was difficult.

Websites

Although he felt there were good options in the other two sections of the paper, he felt a question on social-networking websites was more rooted in Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE). The question was concerned with advice to a friend on setting up a Facebook account and general internet safety.

Jeanne Barrett of the ASTI and Loreto College, Foxrock, Dublin agreed the Facebook question had more of an SPHE slant.

Overall she said the paper was 'very topical and very well presented, with excellent stimulus material'. However, Ms Barrett also felt that certain aspects of the exam were more demanding than other years.

- Katherine Donnelly

Irish Independent