Madam, - I find it discouraging that your columnist "Teacher's Pet" dismisses the legitimate opposition of the teachers' unions to league tables as "ranting and ravings" (Education Today, April 20th).
Madam, - I find it discouraging that your columnist "Teacher's Pet" dismisses the legitimate opposition of the teachers' unions to league tables as "ranting and ravings" (Education Today, April 20th).
Over the past few months I have attended 11 of the "YES" meetings launched by the Minister for Education, and this issue was not raised by even one of the dozens of parents who spoke around the country.
League tables, no matter how cleverly disguised, inevitably lead schools to concentrate on the academic achievement of the brightest.
In the process, they increase the likelihood that those who have learning difficulties or who are academically weak will be marginalised.
The one powerful fact that emerged consistently from the "YES" meetings was that parents want exactly the opposite - a dramatic increase in the time, attention and resources given to children with special needs.
At the risk of being politically incorrect, might I speculate that this issue is in truth driven by a small but influential group of parents who see the choice of school for their offspring as an indicator of social status, and who have little regard for the immense damage league tables will do to our education system?
I hope there are enough good people out there who will continue to rant and rave - and maybe even bleat and whinge on the side - against the obscene idea of turning our school system into a hit parade. - Yours, etc.,
BERNARD LYNCH,
Glendale Meadows,
Leixlip,
Co Kildare.