PATRICK LYDON,
A chara, - As the devoted parent of a sixth-year student, I feel obliged to write in sympathy with all Leaving Cert students to protest against this method of examination. To study and learn a predetermined syllabus for most of three years and then be tested in a two-week, all-or-nothing barrage is a form of psychological punishment that young people just do not need.
For better or worse, I grew up in the United States and I do not usually defend its standards. But if it is possible for a country of 280 million people to assess a student's achievements through a mixture of aptitude tests, standardised achievement tests, continuous assessment in school, interviews, complex written applications with autobiographical elements, and personal references, I do not understand why a country of 3 million has to have such a narrow and one-sided method to achieve "fairness".
The exams do a disservice to the educational system and to the self-development of our most precious resource - young human beings. - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK LYDON,
Callan,
Co Kilkenny.