FINIAN McGRATH TD,
Sir, - Full marks to Joe Humphreys (An Irishman's Diary, September 16th) for giving the positive view of teachers in our country.
It now seems to be fashionable and trendy to bash teachers. I am delighted to see that people such as Pat Kenny and Brenda Power were challenged on their views. Mr Humphreys dealt very comprehensively with the fact that Irish students receive more teaching time than the European average - 74 hours more annually, according to the OECD.
There are other important issues that need to be highlighted. People like Pat Kenny, Brenda Power and politicians around this House who seem to relish criticism of teachers should be reminded of the real world:
1. The amount of time teachers spend on after-school activities such as sports, art, drama and music.
2. The teachers who have put their heads on the block in child abuse cases.
3. The teachers who have quietly helped pupils from crisis homes.
4. The teachers who have given leadership on the race issue when many people sat on the fence or walked away.
5. The teachers who have made a massive contribution to the GAA, the IRFU and the FAI on developing games.
6. The teachers who are fighting the cuts in education, particularly in spending on disadvantaged students.
It is time to cry halt to the teacher-bashing. We do not want to go down the road of other countries, where teachers were humiliated and their unions defeated, and where education services are now in tatters. - Yours, etc.,
FINIAN McGRATH TD,
(Independent),
Dáil Éireann,
Baile Átha Cliath 2.