Madam, - As principal of an urban primary school for 19 years, I am shocked and amazed at Minister for Education Mary Hanafin's response to the question of lack of interest in the position of principal in our primary schools. The Minister asserts that the negative attitude of "Who does she think she is?" is prevalent and is responsible for the dearth of applications from women for such posts.
By channelling her response into a purely women's issue, the Minister has tried to sidestep the real issue, which is why more women and men are not applying for principalships. Her charge is unintentionally insulting to our primary school teachers. To suggest they are unable or unwilling to take on responsibility or engage in career development because they are afraid of what their colleagues will say is disingenuous and evasive.
The nature and scope of the position of principal has changed considerably in recent years. Extensive legislative, insurance, societal and managerial changes have taken place to say nothing of vast curricular and educational developments. It is the principal who takes ultimate responsibility for implementing these. When difficulties arise, colleagues see at first hand the demands and pressures placed on principals and often express the view that no recompense, not even "all the tea in China", would encourage them to take on this increasingly onerous role.
I am not complaining. I find my job challenging and satisfying, but also demanding. Teaching colleagues are eminently supportive and I want to express my gratitude to them for that support. To suggest that a condemnatory attitude on their part is responsible for the dearth of applications for principalships implies that the Minister, whom many teachers hold in high regard, is either losing her grip on reality or is avoiding the main issue, which concerns fair and proper recompense for the scope of the task involved in being a principal.
This is, at the very least, unworthy of the Minister and demeans the women and men of high calibre who teach in our primary schools. - Yours, etc.,
DÉIRDRE KIRWAN, Navan Road, Dublin 7.