Sinead Callanan

Secondary School Teacher

Sociology has instilled in me an understanding of the importance of equality and social justice which I have tried to promote in my work as a teacher, education worker and distance education lecturer. In my role as a second level geography teacher, my grounding in sociology has helped me to understand and convey information to my students on different cultures and the dynamics of social groups. This has been reinforced by my travel experiences to all seven continents. More specifically, my sociological background has provided me with the tools to teach Social Personal Health Education (SPHE), Civic Social Political Education (CSPE) and as Transition Year co-ordinator, I can see many sociological concepts and frameworks in practice, through charity work in the community with organisations such as St. Vincent de Paul, Barnardos and Friends of the Elderly to name but a few. In addition to this, my degree in sociology allowed me to work with the Open University as an associate lecturer in social science. Perhaps my most fulfilling experience was my development work (education) in Zambia for 18 months where I was immersed in a completely different culture in the remotest part of the country, and exposed to unusual customs and values e.g. witchcraft. It was my academic grounding in sociology that best prepared me for such an unforgettable life experience. Sinéad Callanan Secondary School Teacher St. Declan’s College, Cabra Completed degree in 1991.