Journalist Mike Philpott takes a look at what is making the headlines in Thursday's morning papers.
The Belfast Telegraph reports on the latest talks aimed at ending the dispute at Movilla High School which has kept more than 500 pupils away from their desks for nine days.
It says that if the school doesn't reopen tomorrow, which is the last day before the Halloween break, the students will end up going three weeks without lessons.
But it adds that union officials are hopeful of a breakthrough.
The Irish News focuses on the academic test being drawn up to take the place of the 11 Plus, and says there are major doubts that it will be ready in time for its planned introduction next year.
The paper reports that no trials of the test have yet taken place.
The News Letter picks up on the difficulties facing Northern Ireland's construction industry. It says it's in meltdown, and more than half of all firms in the sector are facing ruin.
It quotes the industry organisation the Construction and Property Group as saying that companies are not confident in the future because of a lack of firm commitments from the banks.
'Shoot us'
The front pages in Dublin are dominated by pictures of protests on the streets of the capital, despite the government's announcement that it would rethink its plan to abolish free medical cards for the over 70s.
The depth of the anger is clear from a placard being held up by one woman on the front of the Irish Independent.
'Just shoot us, it would be quicker', it says.
But as the paper reports under the headline 'Streets of Fury', it wasn't just older people who were on the march. Students were out in force, too, protesting about university fees.
The Irish Times quotes the Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, who said the betrayal of the elderly would be the current government's epitaph.
The Shadow Chancellor, George Osborne, is still in trouble with the papers - but Gordon Brown doesn't escape criticism in a related story.
The Daily Mirror thinks Mr Osborne's reputation may have been damaged beyond repair by allegations involving a Russian billionaire.
It reminds the Conservative leader, David Cameron, that sometimes it's kinder to put a lame duck out of its misery.
But the Independent says jokingly that this tale of decadence on a Greek island, as it describes it, is just the kind of thing we need in these drab days.
The Prime Minister tried to take advantage of the situation by calling for the authorities to investigate. The Times says it all backfired when Downing Street was unable to identify the authorities to which he'd been referring.
Billionaire buddy
The Independent says that in any case, an investigation is the last thing the government needs, given Lord Mandelson's friendship with the same Russian billionaire.
Finally, the Daily Express looks at a survey of the lies we tell our children.
We've all been told these things like "watching too much television makes your eyes go square". Six out of 10 parents use that one.
Or "the ice cream van plays music to tell children that it's run out of ice cream". Nearly a quarter of children are the victims of that.
Apparently, youngsters hear an average of three thousand fibs from their parents as they grow up.
The paper says that may sound like a lot, until you think how many the average politician tells in the course of a day.
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