Sir, - I am a teacher. I am also a professional, diligent and caring worker. I have tried consistently to teach to the best of my ability and to treat my students with the respect I expect from them. I say this because the two might seem to be mutually exclusive given the tenor of the coverage of the dispute between the ASTI and the Government. I feel deeply uncomfortable with the labels applied to me and my colleagues - labels such as terrorist, kidnapper, nuclear bomber, coward, shirker, dunce, blackmailer, bully, cynic, traitor, thoughtless, vindictive, greedy, uncaring.
I know many people are unhappy with the ASTI's campaign, but it would be more productive and less offensive to direct their criticisms at the campaign. Nothing is gained and much is lost by depicting teachers as social pariahs. I feel particularly angry that the Minister for Education should speak on the issue only to add to the opprobrium heaped on teachers employed by his Department. His attack implies that they are unsuited to the responsible jobs they hold, and raises questions about the morality of allowing bullies, moral cowards, cynics, etc. to teach the impressionable young.
Perhaps the single greatest irony of his stance is that his Department often responds to public concern about social issues by designing new courses to be incorporated into the (already overloaded) curriculum by these very employees.
There are two parties to this dispute. the Government must share the blame for the present impasse. I do not pretend to state clearly the rights and wrongs on both sides. However, dubbing teachers with nasty names can only further demoralise an already demoralised profession. - Yours, etc.,
Ann Hyland, Barriestown, Wellingtonbridge, Co Wexford.