During my trip to Ireland, I got to explore the
aspects of physical education in Ireland through conversations with several
well-known principals and professors in the country of Ireland. Physical
education is very comparable to the United States, as they have the curriculum
for it but they lack the implantation of it. Michael Cregan, the principal at
Laurel Hill Secondary School, talked about how physical education is not a
highly sought subject for students to take and that when students get into
their senior cycle it is rarely taken.
But recently, physical education is trying to be
implemented into the leaving certification exams. Physical education in college
is not a very well-known major, therefore primary and secondary schools have
trouble finding adequate teachers to teach physical education. Health education
is actually just picked up by teachers or other staff members at the school
when they are available.
Sports are a pretty big deal for Ireland primary and
secondary students including the sport known as hurling or as camogie for
girls. I got the chance to learn how to play the game of hurling by some of the
members on the club team in Limerick. The game was a mix between baseball and
field hockey using a wooden stick and baseball-size ball. As a big fan of
sports, I had so much fun learning how to play and getting a chance to learn
something I didn’t even knew existed until I came to Ireland! Another big
excitement for me during this trip was going to the Ireland v. Turkey football
(soccer) match. Unfortunately Ireland didn’t win, but everyone had a lot of fun
being in the environment of all the avid soccer fans!
I had a wonderful time in Ireland with a great group
of people and learned so much about the education system in Ireland. Hopefully
one day I will be able to return!
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