Madam, - Your columnist Vincent Browne shows himself to be quite out of touch with the reality of life in Irish classrooms today (Opinion, January 26th). Far from seeking to dominate students, any teacher knows only too well that his reputation rests on his fairness, knowledge and skill as a teacher and, perhaps most importantly of all, the respect shown to every single student. Mr Browne presents a rather unfortunate caricature of the student-teacher relationship which any decent teacher would reject.
In rushing to judge all schools, based on one, perhaps poorly-handled incident, your columnist is guilty of the very charge he levels at schools and teachers; failing to hear both sides of the story first before making a judgment. He further shows his ignorance of developments in the Irish educational system in not knowing that schools are now statutorily obliged under the Education Act (1998) to put a students' council in place, providing a forum for students to express their views on all aspects of the running of their school.
To suggest, as does Mr Browne, that schools "inculcate insidious values and ideas in the minds of young people" is to grossly misrepresent the work of teachers, who are more than keenly conscious of their role in loco parentis. What about giving a little more credit to the intelligence of the students? - Yours, etc.,
JOE FLANAGAN, Rockbrook Park School, Dublin 16.
Madam, - In his column of January 26th, Vincent Browne draws some alarming generalisations from an incident in an unnamed secondary school.
The plight of a girl feeling she might be expelled for what seems a fairly trivial offence is disturbing and I can appreciate Mr Browne's concern. I must, however, take exception to the conclusions he draws. He argues that "schools are often the antithesis of the idea of equality and to that extent inculcate insidious values and ideas in the minds of young people".
He further states that students are not involved. . .in formulating the rules of the schools. He suspects "that most teachers and school authorities would find the suggestion ludicrous".
No one would argue that schools are models of democracy, but I know from experience that many schools consult with their students' councils and their parents' associations when drawing up their codes of discipline and other policy documents.
"If students are referred to by their first names, then why not apply that to teachers as well". Not a bad idea. But in the purely hypothetical scenario of my being called before the High Court and Mr Browne being my barrister, would he advise me to address the judge by his first name? Just wondering, Vincent. - Yours, etc.,
JOE SHERIDAN, Retired principal, Killycard, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.