Sir, - The newspapers and RTE have not treated the discussion about the points system and continuous assessment seriously. The first public meeting of the Points System Commission, held in Cork last September, was sketchily reported. At the meeting, the points system and the principles underlying it were defended. Some improvements to the present system of allocating third-level places were suggested.
A person with practical experience of using continuous assessment gave a hair-raising account of the problems and the inherent corruption associated with it.
It was clear to all present that the principle "Will you have a pint or a transfer?", so well described on the Late Late Show during the Lenihan presidential campaign, would hold sway in our schools should a system of continuous assessment be introduced. In a country in which senior civil servants, revenue staff, legal luminaries and planning officials are seen to be subjected to official intimidation, it is daft to assume that lowly teachers, paid a few hundred pounds a week, would be immune from it.
A letter in your paper suggests that the NCCA believes that getting teachers to engage in "continuous assessment" would "enhance teachers' professional status". Who are the members of NCCA? Do they know how things are done in Ireland? Do they read the daily papers? If this is what the members of the NCCA believe, they are like the first World War generals castigated by Field Marshall Montgomery for not knowing anything about front-line conditions.
For some years, the points system has been under attack. Mr John Bruton, TD, advocated a system of continuous assessment some years ago. I asked him, in writing, what safeguards he envisaged to prevent corruption. His reply showed that he had not even thought of that problem.
If continuous assessment for certification comes into Irish schools, we can look forward some years hence to a series of tribunals probing its flawed, corrupt, workings. May I respectfully suggest, Sir, that when hand outs on education arrive in your office, they are subjected to critical, informed scrutiny. Your paper has a reputation for reputable journalism to protect. - Yours, etc., Sean Lydon,
Firgrove Gardens, Bishopstown, Cork.
Taoiseach And His Partner
Sir, - The current debate about the Taoiseach and his partner reminds me of the time when, as a member of the Council of State (1991-97), I was honoured to be invited to my first State dinner. It was to mark the visit of the Icelandic president, if I recall correctly.
The story from the Aras at the time was that the then Taoiseach, one Charles J. Haughey, had vetoed the sending of an invitation to my (female, long-term, stable, happily unmarried) partner, Fiona MacMillan. Direct intervention from President Robinson had apparently been required to secure her unprecedented attendance.
Perhaps the Taoiseach had wind of our attempts to break a further taboo - assisted conception by donor insemination - or else he just knew we wouldn't enjoy the (non-existent) vegetarian option.
How long will it take us to recognise - and cherish - all our diversities on this island? - Yours, etc.,
Quintin Oliver, Donegall Road, Belfast 12.