Madam, - The decision by the Minister for Education not to address teachers at their annual conferences is the essence of bad judgment. The teachers of today have a tough task. There is not a social problem in contemporary Ireland that does not find its way into the classroom, in one form or another.
We rely on our teachers to assist young people to grow and develop into mature moral beings in a world that saturates them with confusion, consumerism and excesses of drink, drugs and violence. We expect them to continue to maintain and enhance the high standard of education that enabled our current economic success to happen. All that and much more.
The past few years have been fractious ones for teachers. Issues around the benchmarking proposals and related matters have left a sour aftertaste. Morale could badly do with a boost.
What education needs now more than anything is a Minister who has the ability to address a body of teachers, to inspire and re-energise them, to reassure them that their work is valued within the community. A Minister who can build bridges who can forge closer bonds between parents and schools. A Minister who can give hope. In short, a Minister who can give leadership.
If this Minister thinks enlisting the enthusiasm of teachers as a body is less important than discussing matters of curricular importance, important and all as this is, then I am certain he is in the wrong job. I earnestly request that he reconsider his decision or reconsider his position. - Yours, et.,
MÁIRÍN QUILL, Wellesley Terrace, Wellington Road, Cork.