Sir, - Give the teachers a rise - maybe even 30 per cent. We don't want the profession to be debased in the way it has been in the UK. But there has to be a quid pro quo. They want to share in the fruits of the current boom, just as our IT folk do. So they should not object to accepting the work practices enjoyed by IT professionals. I have worked in both areas, so here are some suggestions based on my experience.
1. Ditch the unions - the IT industry does not enjoy union protection.
2. Reduce the holiday entitlement - the IT industry averages 23 days a year.
3. Sack incompetent staff - the IT industry is a meritocracy, only the strong survive.
4. Reward achievement not longevity. Most IT companies do quarterly assessments and reward only their high achievers.
5. Lay off teachers when class sizes diminish. IT companies wax and wane, employment is precarious.
And as for stress, IT shareholders and the unforgiving NASDAQ are far more severe judges than any Leaving Certificate examiner. - Yours, etc.,
John P. O'Sullivan, Saval Park Crescent Dalkey, Co Dublin.