Madam, - I am writing to express my dismay at the recent letters that were printed in response to Louise Holden's article on my Leaving Certificate exam advice (Education Today, September 20th).
I must admit that I was not expecting such a forceful reaction. Your correspondents should direct their anger at the education system, not towards me.
The Leaving Certificate is a flawed examination. I certainly do not agree with it. It puts students under extreme pressure and the courses are, in my opinion, far too vast to be covered in just two years. However this is a matter to be taken up with the Government, with Mary Hanafin, not with me. I chose not to fight the system, but to play with it. I did what I had to to achieve my goals, I played the game, if you will. I would not call this attitude "utilitarian", but realistic. I got into college to study the courses I enjoy. I will have "the pleasure of discovery" in business and economics courses.
I must say that I found Patrick Burke's attitude towards my English performance (September 23rd) most presumptuous. I scored a 98 per cent mark in that paper mainly because I used my opinions, my debating ability, not my imagination. The fact that I knew my texts inside out and had clear views on them is what got me an A1. When I referred to "the formula" for exams, I was talking about the way in which a Leaving Cert question needs to be answered: make a point, then back it up with two references. This was illustrated to me in the sample answers; the pattern, not the whole answer, was what I learned off.
With regards to Seamie O'Neill's letter of the same date, I was most surprised to find myself being criticised for making sacrifices - for leaving my old friends and studying for an average of 45 hours a week. Since when is this a bad thing? Most teachers would be delighted if their students did this!
If these writers had cared to read my article fully they would have read that I still socialised, I met my old school friends regularly, I went to the gym, I went out to night-clubs and I made new friends in the Institute of Education. No, sixth year wasn't fun but, believe me, I'm making up for it in college! Finally, I'd like to give my best wishes to Jonathan Wyse and thank him for his positive response. If he gets 600 points I'll buy him a pint in the UCD student bar. - Yours, etc,
RUTH BORLAND, Churchtown, Dublin 14.