It will soon be that time of the year again, when lunch boxes will be packed, shoes polished and ties straightened. No longer the patter of tiny feet, it will be the mud of the playing field and Elastoplasts of the school yard.

Ink will have to be washed out of clothes and parents will be asked how to spell and do arithmetic over the dinner table. Kids will grow sad as the sun fades and the windy days of Autumn set in.
Memories of school holidays will be shouted inaudibly across the classroom, some having gone to the country, some abroad and some who knew that a walk in Sandymount beach might as well be the South of France. Yes, its time to go back to school.

Some people say that school days are the best days of your life, I disagree, however I do think that the effort from your school days will reap benefit and freedom in the adult world. Agree with this or not, it still remains a place of great sporting endeavour for the little ones. A match played in the floodlit Irishtown Stadium or the fields of a school can be a UEFA cup final, with all the skill, passion and exhaustion thrown in.

Remember, these days, teachers are not the worst kind and every child is accounted for no matter how big, small, bright or not so bright.

When I left primary school and entered secondary, I remember a teacher saying to us on our first day, “No one has died going through here, yet”. Five years later as I sat down to do my Leaving Certificate, I realized it was that statement that carried me through, not untouched, but a lot more intelligent that when I started.

This is the Irish schooling system and although some people don’t agree with it, it happens to be the toughest system with the highest standards in the world.

There are a lot of schools and colleges in Ringsend, Sandymount and Lansdowne, so there is plenty to choose from. These cater for rugby, soccer and hurling. For the less fortunate, Roslyn Park has facilities for the mentally and physically disabled.

It is located on the seafront just off the coast road. A friendly environment and excellent cuisine makes it equivalent to any second or third-level educational establishment.

Choose your school carefully and don’t be afraid to change if your child is under too much pressure or is otherwise unhappy.