A chara, - I read Dr Garret FitzGerald's article of April 7th with interest, especially his view of the role of teachers in helping to create the current economic boom and the fact that they deserve to be paid "above the norm for their qualifications" because the students are in general taught by "highly motivated teachers".
He is obviously aware of the sense of total disillusionment regarding the prospects in the profession. He is also probably aware that not one single science graduate from the major universities of this country opted for a teaching diploma last September.
As an assistant principal in the school which won the Young Scientists Competition this year, but which cannot get either a full-time Physics or Chemistry teacher, I have one small question. Why did Dr FitzGerald not express these trenchant and opposite opinions a month ago? They would have been most valuable in helping to create light rather than heat! - Yours, etc.,
Denis Mac Uait, Ashford, Co Wicklow.