Sir, - Few would disagree with Dr Daniel O'Hare's dream (October 28th) that computer literacy should become a "central pillar" of our first and second level education system. This raises questions about money, time, but more fundamentally: what existing pillar must be demolished to make way for computer studies?
Educational pillars required for the complete education of our young are popping up like primroses in spring. A slew of other new studies also scream for space in an overcrowded curriculum. I fear that soon we will have educational pillars, pillars, everywhere and have not a thought to think. If we keep adding educational pillars we run the danger of overloading students' minds with what Cardinal Newman called "undigested knowledge" and force so much upon them that their minds will be enfeebled by an unmeaning profusion of subjects".
We must get back to Cardinal Newman's commonsense assertion that students learn "first one thing, and then another". We must also decide what exactly are the "central pillars" of first and second education, build solid foundations under each pillar and let third level education and the university of life put the finishing touches to the educational edifice.
I disagree with Dr O'Hare's claim that it may be too late to take up computer studies at third level. I doubt if he himself had the benefit of computer studies when he attended school; yet his magnificent contribution to third level education is ample testimony to the quality of the educational pillars erected for him by the system he now deems a "dinosaur". - Yours, etc.,
Killarney Road,
Bray, Co Wicklow.