Sir, – Prof Dympna Devine's article "The traits that make a 'good' teacher" (Education, April 7th) is a case of a teacher who teaches teachers asking teachers what makes a good teacher. The Irish public is quoted only once – that 80 per cent of us think teachers play an important role in what 70 per cent of us see as a difficult job. We are not quoted on how well we think they play the role and do that job. We are not quoted on what we think makes a good teacher or on how many good teachers we have encountered during our children's journeys through the educational system. We are not quoted on whether we think the system deals well with bad teachers, on whether we think schools are focused on teacher quality, or on whether the Department of Education's inspectorate is a force for consistent improvement. We cannot be quoted because we were not asked. Is it that teachers are only really interested in their own opinion? – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL SINNOTT,
Dublin 12.