Sir, - Vincent Browne's comments in favour of the publication of school league tables (E & L, April 25th) show why such league tables should not be published. If a seasoned commentator can come up with such naive conclusions, the dangers inherent in their publication are obvious.
Mr Browne equates "middle class, fee-paying school" with "doing well on average" and "less privileged homes" with "doing less well on average". He partly attributes this to the facilities available in the school. This is an oversimplification. If "less privileged" students do "less well" it is probably because their studies have suffered on account of the long hours they work to pay for any designer clothing they have, rather then having Mummy or Daddy buy it for them. Mr Browne recognises that "the publication of school leagues tables would result initially in the stigmatising of schools that were faring badly for reasons that had nothing to do with the quality of teaching". However, rather than focusing resources on such schools, as Mr Browne claims, the outcome would probably be a diminution of this school's resources.
Any drop in pupil numbers as a result of an unfavourable league table publication would see a corresponding drop in the number of teachers that the school is entitled to. Subject options could be lost. If the school student population fell below 500, there would be an automatic cut in career guidance entitlement. The school would be sent into a downward spiral from which it might never recover.
As well as "less privileged" schools, Mr Browne also mentions "awful teachers", but nowhere does he suggest how one can tell which factor is responsible for poor results. Nor will league table publication show up inferior teaching if students have taken grinds to compensate for their "awful teacher".
Mr Browne is correct when he says that teachers should be accountable through the inspectorate system. He is also correct when he describes this system as a joke. There are far too few inspectors. Only once in 21 years have I had a visit from a maths inspector. What is needed, then, is a much beefed-up inspectorate system where teachers can expect a visit every two or three years from an inspector of their subject.
Publication of school league tables would only lead to a situation where the old adage, "there are lies, damned lies and statistics", would prevail. The accountability that Mr Browne and many parents desire can be achieved through a combination of regular inspector visits and whole school evaluation. - Yours, etc.,
Bernard McDonnell, Assistant Principal, Plunket College, Swords Road, Whitehall, Dublin 9.