BRENDAN O'DONOGHUE,
Sir, - As a teacher of secondary school physics I read Colette Ware's letter of August 28th with some confusion. Who are the teachers to whom she refers? I have taught in several schools during my 12-year career and have been consistently impressed by the professionalism and dedication of my colleagues.
Have I known teachers to behave as she describes? I can think of one or two, yes, but to characterise my profession so unjustly on the basis of her few months' experience as a supervisor is surely unsound.
In science classes I teach students about "observer bias" - the interpretation of data to fit beliefs previously held by the experimentalist. Ms Ware seems to be exhibiting "observer bias": I feel her letter says as much about her preconceptions as about the state of education in this country. - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN O'DONOGHUE,
Tralee,
Co Kerry.