DENIS GUERIN,
A chara, - A very unusual feeling washed over me as I read the article entitled "Part-time work hits pupils Leaving Cert performance" (April 30th). I'm 28 years old and it's been 11 years since my Leaving Cert and six since my final exams in college. I have a very rewarding job and thankfully, feel I will never have to sit another exam again. However, as I read the article my mind was filled with: "Ah no. Me Da is going to make me quit me job in the petrol station and I'll have no money come August to go to Feile."
You see, and I'm not sure if you really realise this but The Irish Times Education Department is in essence the bible of education and study for the vast majority of parents in Ireland. This began many years ago when the late Christina Murphy began brainwashing young people into believing that a college course or PLC was the be all and end all of existence. And so, all over the country, parents panicked and starter drilling the mantra "points, points, points" into their children. If Ms Murphy had written an article suggesting that all students who want a good Leaving Cert must do a pilgrimage to Mecca in order to achieve spiritual enlightenment, you know the parental rush on the travel agents would have caused a dust cloud visible from space.
So today's article stated that, spastically and statistically only, students who have part-time employment tend to do less well than those who don't. Especially in "disadvantaged areas". It was this phrase that concerned me because, to the best of my knowledge, every survey and study into social demographics informs us that people from "disadvantaged areas" tend to do less well in state exams than those who are from, well, more advantaged areas. So the fact that they work part-time is of little consequence.
But to thousands of kids all over the country it's too late. The oracle has spoken. The Irish Times says that if you work, you'll do less well in your exams so "It's time to hand in your notice sonny and hit the books". So no Feile (or is it Ibiza these days) for many kids but worse than that for many young people, no work experience, no learning about working with adults in a professional manner in a commercial environment, and most importantly, no learning the importance of time management in balancing work, study and socialising.
It's also time for us as a nation to break out of the college and degree mentality and accept that all 17-year-olds will not go to college (there aren't enough places). Even more than that, many 17-year-olds don't want to go to college. They want to work and earn money. And where's the harm in that? It is far better for 16 and 17-year-olds to be out earning a wage than hanging around on street corners causing trouble. I'm sure that the parents of Damilola Taylor would agree.- Is mise,
DENIS GUERIN, Woburn Sands, England.