SECOND-LEVEL TEACHERS will be asking parents, school management and the Government to endorse an ASTI charter for second-level schools, according to ASTI general secretary Charlie Lennon. The 12-point document states that second-level education policy should be based on the principle of equality. "Where participation and achievement in education are impeded by physical or mental disabilities or economic, social and cultural factors," declares the charter, "the State, through education policy, should seek to eliminate or compensate for the causes and consequences of educational disadvantage."

All students should be offered arts education, PE, social, personal and health education as well as civic and political education, guidance counselling and pastoral care programmes, according to the charter.

Not surprisingly, finance rears its head. The charter's eighth point states that quality education in second-level schools requires a properly financed system. "A quality education service in second-level schools requires small class sizes, the availability of adequate numbers of teachers, adequate levels of equipment and facilities, a safe and comfortable learning environment and the operation of codes of behaviour to maintain a positive learning environment and to prevent bullying."

John Mulcahy, president of the ASTI, says that the charter is basically a bill of rights. Students have a right to a free education in comfortable surroundings rather than leaking hovels, he says, "They are entitled to a wide-ranging curriculum and, irrespective of ability or sex, they are entitled to a full choice of subjects. In this day and age, we still have mothers going to courts to vindicate the rights of their children to go the school of their choice. Many children are not benefiting from the educational system and there are some who can't even get into it.