TALKBACK:Demonising teachers will erode morale and damage the school environment, writes BRIAN MOONEY

SUCCESSFUL SCHOOLS derive their success from a complex set of circumstances. Key among these is the level of respect in which the school and all who work in it are held, both by students and their parents. This respect is hard-earned, and its erosion or loss would have serious consequences for the quality of education experienced by all students.

If a school begins to lose the respect of students, either as a result of low morale among teachers or poor teaching, the first thing that starts to unravel is the level of discipline among students. This manifests itself initially in subtle ways: uniforms become bedraggled, graffiti begins to appear on desks and school books, and, increasingly, class time gets bogged down in discipline issues.

As the stresses and strains caused by Ireland Inc’s huge debts increase, some commentators are targeting the pay and conditions of teachers. Comparative earnings figures for those in the private and public sectors have been published, with the underlying implication that public servants are still being overpaid even after the cuts of the past two years.

But there are dangers with all this. Inevitably such a commentary can chip away at old-fashioned respect for teachers. Is this what we want for our education system? When you drop your son or daughter at the school gate in the morning, do you want them entering a positive, affirming environment or one full of resentment and accompanying indiscipline?

As we have shown both on the cricket pitch and the rugby field of late, when we unite in a common purpose we can generate huge positive energy that can transform our performance as a society and economy.

Huge mistakes were made in Ireland in the recent past as a result of the circumstances created by the huge flows of cheap money.

Like other public servants, teachers sought their fair share of the fruits of that bubble, so that they could have a decent standard of living. It is often forgotten just how expensive Ireland became during the boom years. Teachers and their unions worked to protect living standards at a time when private-sector wages were rocketing.

Following the crash many teachers are left with mortgage payments and other costs based on pre-2009 salaries. Many are struggling every month to survive on their depleted incomes.

Teachers have also accepted the terms of the Croke Park agreement. They are working an extra hour per week and holding staff and parent-teacher meetings outside school hours.

Teachers deserve a break. They are working every day to give the next generation the skills we will all need to lift Ireland out of the morass.

The answer to our economic woes lies in a negotiated restructuring of our banking debt. There is little to be gained from demonising teachers.

Brian Mooney is a guidance counsellor at Oatlands College, Dublin