Leaving Cert reform – a top-down orthodoxy

Sir, – I refer to “The Irish Times view on the Leaving Cert: reform cannot come soon enough” (August 22nd).

Your editorial justification for reform is built in part upon vague statements, such as: “Tech-savvy teenagers, used to choice and independence, too often sit passively.”

This sort of hazy justification for reform is dangerous. The Junior Cycle was partly introduced using this sort of “evidence”. It led to the promotion of a top-down, rigid educational orthodoxy. This in turn led to the introduction of time and resource-wasteful CBAs (classroom-based assessments, also now known by many as “Couldn’t Be Ar***”), dumbed-down syllabuses, the disastrously stupid decision to drop history (reversed) and geography (still in place) as core subjects, and the incredibly costly belief that teachers needed to be told how to teach.

Call for Leaving Cert reform, if you must, but at least be clear why, as otherwise you run the risk of implementing prodigal, and at times ridiculous, changes. – Yours, etc,