Madam, - It is likely that many teachers will agree with Máirín Quill's letter of March 5th, in which she censures the Minister for Education's decision not to attend the teachers' annual conferences. She rightly points out the increasing difficulties of the teaching profession and the need for the Minister to inspire, encourage and re-energise teachers.
However, that prompts the question of whether or not the present Minister has the ability to furnish such inspiration and encouragement, particularly after all the petty nonsense over the matter of teacher attendance in the days before the Christmas holidays. I think we all know the answer to that one.
In my view the teachers' unions should be heaving a collective sigh of relief that he is not going to turn up, and that their annual conferences are being spared at least one embarrassing irritation. Now the union leaders have the ideal opportunity to contact all the other fraternal delegates and political, ecclesiastical, managerial and parental representatives, and tell them: "Sorry, folks, no visitors this year, because we're going to spend every moment of our three days figuring out ways and means of improving teachers' salaries and working conditions."
Teachers, particularly those at second level, should remember the extent to which their working conditions have worsened in the past decade. Most young teachers have to spend several years doing substitute work with little or no security of tenure before they can obtain permanent employment. The maintenance of classroom discipline becomes ever more difficult. Parental expectations and demands seem to know no limits.
Far from being discouraged, insulted or furious at this latest snub from a Minister who could snub for Ireland, our teachers should be dancing a jig of glee that their union delegates will have around an extra three hours during Easter Week to solve the many problems of the profession.
I'm quite looking forward to the ASTI convention. - Yours, etc.,
PIERCE H. PURCELL, Davis Terrace, Clonmel, Co Tipperary.
Madam, - Will Noel Dempsey's refusal to address the secondary teachers conference leave an ASTI taste in the mouths of the country's cossetted pedagogues? - Yours, etc.,
PAUL DELANEY, Beacon Hill, Dalkey.