Dear Editor,

I was dismayed, disturbed and saddened by the tone and content of the points made by Christina Murphy (E&L, December 5th, 1995) in relation to state examinations and children with what she refers to as a "mental handicap".

She states that in her view these exams are simply not suited to such children, who should follow other, more suitable programmes".

"I find the prejudice and ignorance of this assertion beyond belief. Ms Murphy obviously believes that the education system should be about the exclusion, marginalisation and isolation of certain children.

Education should be about encouragement, hope, pushing back boundaries, overcoming prejudice and realising the true potential of the child.

As a teacher in second level and a parent of a child with Down's Syndrome I want to inform Christina Murphy that some "such children" can and do succeed at state examinations. In other countries some "such children" have even gone on to study at third level.

Ms Murphy fully supports the "concession" system operated by the Department of Education at present. This is an unjust and biased system whereby a child with a "specific" learning disability (who can somehow prove that they are of average or above average intelligence before doing the examination) can ensure that every possible effort is made to decipher their answers and have them marked reliably in accordance with the marking scheme, however difficult it is to read their work, while a child with Down's Syndrome does not have the same entitlement. This smacks of intellectual snobbery and suspicion of children with Down's Syndrome and children with a mental disability in general.

I do not want to dilute or short circuit the examination system nor would I want my child's answers marked correct if they were wrong. What I do want is that the same care be taken in reading my child's answers as that shown in correcting the scripts of other children with a "specific" learning difficulty. In short, I seek equal rights and justice for all children with a learning disability. Children with a mental disability seek no more and deserve no less. Finally, knowing my child as I do I feel that I cannot measure her potential. I would not presume to predetermine her achievements - neither should Christina Murphy. yours,

3 Johnstown Park,

Glounthaune,

Co Cork