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Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education

Anseo.net - If I were the Minister for Education

By: Simon Lewis
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About this listen

How many times have you said to yourself, "If I were the Minister for Education…?" Well I do! Rather than grumble to myself, I decided to podcast my thoughts on ways I'd change the primary education system in Ireland. Every episode I'll take on a different theme, give some background and hopefully come to some conclusions by the end.

simonmlewis.substack.comSimon Lewis
Education
Episodes
  • Interview 33: Gavin Doyle
    Apr 25 2026

    In this episode of “If I were the Minister for Education”, I interview Gavin Doyle, a Dublin secondary teacher and founder of Examinaite, about AI and technology in education. Gavin describes his path from teaching and high-level basketball to software development after time in San Francisco, and explains Examinaite’s aim to reduce teacher workload through a bank of 25,000 Leaving Cert past questions with AI-supported marking, feedback, progress tracking, and generation of new differentiated mock questions, with potential for printable resources. They discuss using AI to tailor learning to pupils’ interests, varying tech access in primary schools, and tools like NotebookLM and Claude for turning long texts into podcasts and creating engaging resources. They address concerns about AI cheating, limits of AI detection, assessment changes, and suggest more in-person exams, oral work, and teaching responsible, gradual AI use. Gavin also outlines “Craicathon”, a Gaeilge-focused hackathon at Dogpatch Labs with projects like Irish sign language translation, Irish-friendly venue maps with phrases, and an Irish-event rating app, and shares views on AI driving more personalised education and the importance of grit, resilience, and open-mindedness.00:00 Welcome and Subscribe00:47 Meet Gavin Doyle01:51 Gavin’s Teaching and Tech Journey04:15 AI for Teachers Explained06:33 Cutting Admin and Corrections07:41 Examinaite for Leaving Cert Prep11:12 Primary Tech Reality Check12:04 Personalised Learning and New Questions16:13 AI Makes Coding Accessible18:28 Irish Language Tech Hackathon25:25 Creative Classroom AI Tools26:35 AI for Learning Styles27:09 NotebookLM Classroom Magic28:02 Claude Quizzes and Websites29:42 Cheating and Detection Limits32:25 AI Proof Assessment Ideas33:30 Teaching Responsible AI Use35:15 Internet to AI Parallels37:09 Personalisation and COVID Shift38:30 Alpha School Future Model42:23 Minister for Education Vision44:36 Future Skills Grit Resilience48:16 Wrap Up and Contact Info49:34 Host Closing Reflections



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe
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    51 mins
  • Lies, Damn Lies and School Patronage
    Apr 13 2026

    In this episode of If I were the Minister for Education, I unpack the Department of Education’s primary school survey and the headline claim that 40% of parents in denominational primary schools would prefer their school to be multidenominational. I admit I was wrong to assume parents would simply vote for the status quo, and I argue this figure is a remarkable tipping point, especially given how quickly some commentators tried to minimise it by claiming it represents only 16% overall. I question why only partial statistics were released, warn how narratives harden before full data emerges, and describe how “cultural Catholics”, church bodies and the state all benefit from a system driven as much by convenience and control as belief. If I were Minister, I’d publish all the data fast and remove patronage as the dividing line to build one inclusive system.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe
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    43 mins
  • Interview 32: Dr. Ross Greene and Ruth Eadie
    Mar 28 2026

    In this episode of If I Were the Minister for Education, I explore how behaviour support in Irish primary schools has shifted from corporal punishment to rewards and consequences, and now toward restorative practice, nurture spaces, and Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS). I’m joined by Dr. Ross Greene, founder of Lives in the Balance and author of The Explosive Child, Lost at School, and The Kids Who Aren’t OK, and by Ruth Edie, principal in Dublin 18 and a certified CPS trainer. We discuss CPS’s focus on solving the unsolved problems behind concerning behaviour through proactive, collaborative Plan B conversations, including the ASEP process and practical “drilling” strategies. We also compare CPS with restorative practice, address concerns about time and “letting kids off,” and share resources (livesinthebalance.org/ireland). I dedicate the episode to my late deputy principal Emer and HSE psychologist Toby.

    00:00 Welcome and Overview

    00:39 Behavior Shifts in Schools

    01:59 Discovering CPS

    03:10 Dedication and Intro

    03:48 Meet Ross and Ruth

    05:18 Ross Green Background

    06:26 Ruth Eadie Journey

    10:05 What Is CPS

    13:14 ASEP and Unsolved Problems

    15:06 Plan B Conversation

    19:47 Drilling Strategies

    21:09 When CPS Starts

    22:49 Handling I Don’t Know

    24:33 Ireland Context Setup

    25:17 Piloting CPS in Ireland

    25:50 Tribute to Toby and Emer

    27:12 Restorative Practice vs CPS

    29:16 What CPS Adds for Teachers

    30:18 Finding Time for CPS

    32:48 Common Pushback and Myths

    35:56 Where to Learn CPS

    38:05 Minister for a Day

    41:48 Final Resources and Farewell



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit simonmlewis.substack.com/subscribe
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
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