Sir, – I did not support or partake in the heckling of our Minister of Education. I stood silently outside the hall with a poster condemning his part in destroying our education system. I didn’t attend his speech because I knew it would be practically the same one he gave last year. He does not listen. I didn’t support his invitation, but it was supported by ASTI’s standing committee and our general secretary – who must have known the inevitable outcome.
It is amazing that the heckling is such a big story. Teachers all over Ireland face worse on a daily basis. Physical assault, sexual harassment and deliberate disruption of learning are all met with in the classrooms of Ireland week in, week out. Reports of these incidents are as rare as positive stories about our politicians. While the vast majority of students behave themselves, supports and guidance for those who can’t behave have been withdrawn.
Perhaps the Minister feels that the new Junior Certificate will solve the myriad of social and personal problems facing teachers. A new Junior Certificate with one day’s training and no supports seems to be the only crumb from his table.
I am also terribly sorry that our general secretary was bullied online. I condemn all online bullying but sad to say it’s a regular problem for many teachers as it is for others in the public eye.
The media will focus on internal divisions in ASTI but our members are united in our opposition to the new Junior Cert ificate. Many debates and discussions occur in ASTI daily. The vast majority are properly conducted. It is sad, but natural, that tempers can fray given the downhill direction of our education system. Yours, etc,
BARRY HAZEL,
Killarney Road,
Bray,
Co Wicklow
Sir, – Des O’Sullivan ( February 24th) asks of the teachers, “why can’t they do what they’re told, like the rest of us?” His letter comes to us from an address in Qatar. Were Mr O’Sullivan to cast a glance at labour conditions on the Gulf state’s World Cup building sites, he might think twice before preaching such abject servility. Such conditions become inevitable when trade unions are weak or non-existent. Instead of deploring the “militancy” of those who responded to Ruairí Quinn’s cynical rhetoric with some mild heckling, Mr O’Sullivan should be hoping that such manifestations of self-respect become more widespread in Irish society. Yours,
DANIEL FINN,
Fairfax Road
Turnpike Lane,
London
Sir, – The ASTI recalcitrants need a “bad, bad cop” to face them down. Appoint Roy Keane as education minister! Yours, etc,
OLIVER McGRANE,
Marley Avenue,
Dublin 16
Sir, – Given the behaviour displayed at the teachers’ conference, is it time to reintroduce corporal punishment? Yours, etc,
EUGENE TANNAM,
Monalea Park,
Dublin 24