Sir, - I don't think teachers are entitled to a 30 per cent pay increase. As a mother of a second-year student, last year I was amazed at how many days off he had. I added them up and they were 16 days short of the minimum education, i.e. 151 instead of 167 teaching days (and this was being generous). As our educational year is one of the shortest in the world, I think this is disgraceful.
Teachers have taken the minimum teaching days to mean the maximum days that they will work, even if the children aren't in the school. Mid-term breaks and parent-teacher meetings and training days should not be taken at the expense of our children's education. - Yours, etc.,
Irene Pelow, Seafield Road, Killiney, Co. Dublin.