Sir, - Harold Wilson once said: "A week is a long time in politics". For teachers a day is a long time in education.
On Tuesday last week I crawled down the corridor with the hound-dog look of dejection, believing my lifetime's work was a failure. The chronic illiteracy, the teenage abuse of alcohol and other substances, the classroom bullying and the street violence were our fault because we did not care enough. All that interested us were our holidays, days off and doing as little as possible. Our negative feelings have been intensified by pillorying from media pundits and lampooning by parents' groups and our dignity undermined by the cold soup, two-course dinner, 20p-a-mile in-service treatment by the Department.
What a difference a day makes. On Wednesday I strutted down the corridor confident in the knowledge that we were on top of the world. Reassured by the figures from the OECD survey, we can recapture some of the old confidence that put us in such an exalted position. We can now reassert the old certainties that we provide a first-class service, that we are the most concerned, selfless body of professionals to be found anywhere, that our cost-effectiveness is a true measure of our dedication and commitment and that we exemplify the true spirit of caring and sharing.
I am looking forward to the Christmas break to bask in the glow of success and attainment.
Yours, etc.,
Michael O'Boyle, Deputy Principal, St Columba's College, Stranorlar, Co Donegal.