Sir, - I would like to comment on your Education Correspondent's report (September 1st) "Group claims marking of Leaving Cert inconsistent". Mr Neil Molloy, an English teacher at Marist College, Athlone, is right to point out anomalies in the marking of the honours English papers in the Leaving Cert.
Statistics show that in the 10 years from 1987 to 1997 the number of A grades awarded in honours English has doubled. While that news is comforting, the experience at classroom level suggests that some of the best, brightest and most diligent pupils are not attaining the A grade. This is often in stark contrast to their performance in their other subjects.
Particularly bewildering for an English teacher is to see his less able candidates coming in with Bs while his small group of top performers is dropping down to Cs.
Clearly, all is not well with the state of correction of some batches of papers. Candidates up to two grades adrift of their true potential? That is a state of affairs that calls for some investigation. Correcting English papers can never be as precise as that of the science papers, for example. It has been said that there are no right or wrong answers in English, only good arguments. The English examiner at honours level must allow adequate time to read the scripts, assess the quality of the argument, the structure and the expression.
In addition, the examiner needs to be alert to the small number of candidates who have real fluency and flair. The class teacher knows these candidates - a tired examiner working to a deadline and a grading curve may well miss them.
I will be attending the meeting of concerned teachers and parents at Marist College, Athlone, on Saturday at 3 p.m. to discuss rechecking procedures. - Yours, etc.,
Moate, Co Westmeath.