A chara, – While I would agree broadly with the points made by your correspondents about the need for a new approach to Leaving Cert art, I must take issue with Aidan Cavey’s assertion (August 16th) that the appalling dearth of A grades in the subject is “a damning indictment of how art is taught” in Ireland.
The Junior Cert art project offers students scope for their creativity and produces exciting and highly skilled work year after year. The extremely high standards achieved at this level is testament to the excellent teaching going on in art rooms all over the country and is reflected in the high percentage of A grades achieved at this level.
The problem with the Leaving Cert lies with a curriculum that has remained largely unchanged since the 1970s. This outdated course tends to stymie students’ creativity; and the mix of a full academic subject combined with three practical exams make it virtually impossible to achieve an A1 grade in the final exam. In spite of some excellent teaching and some vibrant and creative work, both students and teachers are invariably disappointed by the lack of top grades in the subject. – Is mise,
MARY KAVANAGH,
Ardee, Co Louth.