Madam, - Recent letters (Brian Daly, May 13th and Aidan Hayes, May 21st) regarding the education system and its struggle to provide our youth with the "life skills" needed for today's world, were refreshing indeed. Particularly hopeful was the questioning of the manic drive towards attainment of academic success in the form of points, which appears to have taken us all over and transformed us into a nation of "go-getters".
In that drive for success the true meaning of education has perhaps been lost. A system which places success and achievement as ultimate goals encourages those in it to look outside themselves for that something which may or may not bring fulfilment but has the potential to ensure material wealth - money, expensive houses, designer clothes, shiny cars and labels, labels, labels.
Surely the real essence of education is drawing out from within. Encouraging and facilitating our young people in achieving their innate potential, recognising and exploring their skills and talents and using them to both gain and give enjoyment in life. Discovering their worth as human beings and learning to live life to the fullest knowledge that a full life is not all about cramming one's days with work, success and money. Young people need the space and time to dabble and dip into life without the pressure of having to fit some stereotypical mould of excellence.
We are a nation caught on a roller coaster, which is spinning so fast we cannot get off. We have young people pumping themselves with alcohol and other drugs, driving cars at break-neck speeds. Are we failing to help them to experience the "high" of just living? - Yours, etc.,
ORLA FARRELL, Loreto Avenue, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14.