Sir, - Reports in the media, the mouthings of the National Parents Association and the blackguardism plus criminal misconduct of some students in relation to the "teachers' strike" would suggest that ASTI members have been acting illegally and undemocratically. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The NPA believes that teachers are obliged to conform to the mores of some kind of social/ moral conscience which forbids them from exercising their inalienable right to strike, where the education of students and the holding of examinations are concerned. Balderdash. The teachers' strike is both legal and democratic; social morality doesn't come into it, whatever that may be. The demonstrating students acted very stupidly, and those who were arrested did themselves and their families a great disservice. I hope the parents concerned will be as quick to criticise their errant offspring as the members of the NPA were to abuse the teachers. And pigs might fly.
Teachers have a thankless job. Society expects too much of them and they get little support from many parents, a number of whom are far too quick to criticise them and even take legal action in the flimsiest of circumstances. How many parents today would advise a son or daughter to become a teacher, I wonder? I wouldn't.
In 10 years' time we may well have a serious shortage of them. The level of abuse the striking teachers have had to suffer savours mightily of the treatment meted out to the former Sunday Independent columnist Mary Ellen Synon, who was unwise enough to openly express an honestly held opinion about the Paralympics. This was unjust, unwarranted, unreasonable and undemocratic, as it is today with regard to the striking teachers - and those concerned should be ashamed of themselves.
If while acting within the law one cannot express an honestly held opinion or go on strike for better wages, what kind of democracy are we? Of course, had the teachers all been politicians they could have given themselves a massive rise in salary without consulting anyone. - Yours, etc.,
W.G.A. Scott, Friars Hill, Wicklow.