Sir, Surely the contributor (April 8th) who vented his spleen on the teachers and their rejection of the deal offered by the Minister for Education is perhaps generalising on his condemnation of the entire profession. (Might I recommend, presumptuously perhaps, the reading of The Master by Brian MacMahon.) There are, I am sure, many of that body who appreciate the opportunity to play a major role in the moulding of our future generations couple with the satisfaction of seeing the recipients of their favours going, con to become contributing members of society. The general respect and support the teachers have from the community at large, based upon a reliance upon that profession to impart not only the basic educational, requirements of our offspring but also to set an example to them in the merits of a career not focused solely upon material benefits.
Like any other job or profession a vocal few who wish to exploit the system will many times come to the fore and perhaps alienate those in the community who cannot understand how people who have such a short working day, year and now working life, can threaten industrial action for yet a better deal. There is a suggestion that money would be well spent on a campaign to raise public awareness of the apparent plight of the teaching body. The mind boggles to imagine just how this could be accomplished: bearing in mind the amount of people who would agree with much of the sentiments expressed by our intrepid high speed printing press operator who prompted this letter.
Change is in the air, questions are being asked about the performance of teachers as individuals, schools as a whole, and how some enter willingly into extra curricular activities and others skive off at every opportunity. These are entirely new concepts for some, and if people could only have empathy with those who have not exactly found teaching to be a true vocation and which merely represents a means of putting in the hours for a moderately high status, modestly paid occupation.
Resistance to change is a well known fact and if the changes are perceived to only benefit the pupils, is it surprising that those with little or no vocational leanings are looking for a lucrative early exit mechanism or alternatively more money as compensation? Industrial action on the part of the teachers would be of harm to this, year's crop of school leavers but much greater harm would, in my opinion, be done to the public good if we give in to bullying tactics in which children are used as hostages.
At the annual teachers cribbing session the Government stands, accused of betrayal to their cause, we the public shall wait and see who betrays who in the weeks to come. Just be aware, a large section of the Dail are from an educational background, presumably on leave of absence, and therefore might be influenced by the prospect of returning to the classroom should the Seanad, not beckon after the next election. I would hazard a guess the Labour candidates will be particularly and understandably interested, the term volte face springs to mind. No pun intended. Anyway, I think he was lawyer! - Yours, etc.,
Killaloe,
Co Clare.