GEOFFREY CARMICHAEL,
Madam, - Queen's University claims there is no demand for classical subjects at the university. The undersigned all teach in schools which offer at least one of the classical subjects of Latin, Greek, classical civilisation and ancient history.
Many of our pupils wish to study these subjects in a Northern Ireland university. Queen's is currently the only provider of such courses in Northern Ireland. By closing the classics department, Queen's is depriving our students of access to these subjects, and forcing them to either abandon their studies or to consider leaving the province.
Queen's argument that there is no demand for these subjects is not validated by the actual enrolment figures. Considerable numbers take classical studies at the university and there is a consistent demand for the classical languages of Latin and Greek. In any case, low demand is also not necessary a reason for discontinuing a subject.
We believe that our subjects are important enough to be offered by a major university anywhere, and that all students should have the opportunity to learn about the ancient world. - Yours, etc., DAVID CROOKES,
GEOFFREY CARMICHAEL, ROSEMARY HARKNESS, CLIVE JACKSON, TREVOR SURGENOR Ballymena Academy; KEITH CURRIE, ISABEL BREDIN, ALAN KER, Belfast High School; JOHN REILLY, ISABEL CAMERON ELISABETH THOMPSON, Belfast Royal Academy; WESLEY SEMPLE, Campbell College, Belfast; JOHN McNEE, Foyle & Londonderry College; PATRICIA MAYNES, Holy Trinity College, Cookstown; ALAN DEMPSIE, HELEN CROOKES, LESLIE CROWE, JOANNE WILLIAMSON, Methodist College, Belfast;
DAVID WALKER, Royal School, Armagh; LAURA McCRORY, St Catherine's College, Armagh; JOHN KENNEDY, St Louis' Grammar
School, Ballymena; HEATHER RENDALL, Victoria College, Belfast.