Madam, - Is it not possible for The Irish Times to recognise and praise the heroic efforts of the country's second-level teachers in achieving their recent excellent ratings in the latest OECD report? The gloomy headline and negative focus of your Education Editor's coverage of this report (December 7th) - and indeed your own Editorial - were completely at odds with the predominantly positive - and occasionally splendid - attainments attributed to Irish students by the study.
But what your coverage really misses - or perhaps ignores - is the context in which our excellent results should be presented. That Ireland can emerge sixth in literacy skills of all 27 countries studied is commendable.
That teachers can promote such standards from the most overcrowded classrooms of the countries involved, on investment and resourcing levels which the OECD itself ranks right at the bottom of its tables, is little short of miraculous.
The front page of the same edition of your paper reports the achievements of a small group of Irish entrepreneurs who sat on a piece of land for four years and cleared a cool €55 million profit for this contribution to society. Your begrudging coverage of the OECD report made page eight.
Perhaps it is seasonal nostalgia that makes me long for a time when dedication and commitment were cherished and valued - if poorly paid - and naked greed was seen for what it is.
Education matters? Bah, hum- bug. - Yours, etc.,
BERNARD LYNCH, Leixlip, Co Kildare.