Last week John Power and Brian Mooney debated the question: Should there be bonus points for maths and physics in the Leaving Certificate? Here is an edited version of your comments.
Yes, the technical and mathematical illiteracy in this country is frightening. On this base, we're supposed to build a knowledge economy?
Stephen Ireland
I am a Leaving Certificate student intent on studying physics next year. Since I sat the Junior Certificate, my higher-level maths class has more than halved as people maintain that they will achieve better results (and as such, more CAO points) by sitting ordinary-level maths, and then putting more effort into their other subjects.
When students feel it's simply easier to get more points by not doing higher-level maths, why is anyone surprised that such tactics are used?
I feel that the offer of extra points would be of immense benefit to the economy as a whole.
Aoife, Ireland
The proposal to award bonus points for higher-level maths / physics may in fact exacerbate rather than alleviate the problem of declining numbers of students. A certain percentage of students show an aptitude for higher maths and indeed these same students usually also have aptitudes for subjects such as physics and applied maths.
These students do not find these subjects any more difficult than other Leaving Certificate subjects. It would make more sense to invest more resources into aptitude testing and career guidance to identify and optimise the numbers of students taking up higher-level maths rather than simply offering a carrot for unsuitable students to take the wrong career path.
Eileen O'Duffy, Ireland
Brian Mooney is right to point out that "the answer to increasing our students' interest in careers in science, engineering and technology is to make their experiences of these disciplines interesting and exciting throughout their school education". However, his statement that that "CAO points have never been the determining factor in students' choice of subjects" is highly contentious. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many students who do well in honours maths at Junior Cert level choose the "Pass" stream for Leaving Cert, because of a perception that maths is a difficult subject that can take time from other subjects. Bonus points for honours maths would go some way towards addressing this concern.
Dr Cormac O'Raifeartaigh, Ireland
As one of the minority in this country who "get" maths, I am amazed at how many people feel it is an other-worldly subject and can only surmise that it is as a result of how it is taught in school. It is taught as a super -intelligent subject, thus alienating those who "don't get it" . . . I am not a teacher but have encouraged maths learning in kids (grinds) and their ability improves at an alarming rate if you give them a little confidence - it's a positive calculus.
Dawn Tallon, Ireland
In my school, the majority of students studied higher-level maths but then dropped to ordinary level immediately after the Junior Cert without giving higher level a chance. If bonus points were on offer, perhaps students would give the subjects more of a chance and would even grow to like them.
Ciara, Ireland