Madam, - I agree with Carmel Hiney (November 30th). Children with specific learning difficulties such as autism should be taught by teachers specialising in this area and not by primary teachers with little or no understanding of such problems.
I have spent many years teaching children with dyslexia and I also tutor teachers who work with children with specific learning difficulties: dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalcula and Attention Deficit Disorder.
Children with such difficulties who are schooled by non-specialists are not receiving an adequate education.
In fact, they are subjected to frustration and can develop anti-social tendencies, which can force the State to cater for them, in other ways, at a far greater cost.
The short-sighted vision of the Minister and her Department is appalling. It is time to take the blinkers off and address the shortage of primary teachers specialising in special needs. The Exchequer has the money. Has the Minister got the will? - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL O'DONNELL, Cork Individual Tuition, St Patricks Hill, Cork.