Teachers dealing with political interference

Dear sir - I would like to comment on Senator Dominic Hannigan's recently published report on educational affairs in Meath, which features prominently on his website. Titled 'Education in Meath, A Snapshot of Where We are, Senator Dominic Hannigan, January 2011' it appears as a glossy 62 page study and highlights a number of important issues worthy of attention by all of the educational stakeholders within the county. However, there are a number of misleading and erroneous suppositions in this document which need to be challenged. The suggestion that many children within the county are 'entering the post-primary system without basic literacy and numeracy skills' is totally unfounded and bereft of solid evidence and research. This report also places the spotlight on the performance of teachers within the county and the need for more transparency and accountability within the profession. There are failing teachers just as there are failing judges, failing doctors, failing journalists, failing business people, failing brick-layers and carpenters and failing parents. And failing politicians. Unfortunately that is the human condition. Irish teachers have to deal everyday with the social detritus and depravation which is the result of ill-conceived political action and interference. No doubt Senator Hannigan will say that I am misrepresenting his work and in a classic example of what can be termed 'flat-earth news' while he claims in the first page of the document that he hopes that the report 'is an accurate assessment of the issues facing primary and post-primary schools in Meath today' he adds the assertion that not all the views expressed in the document 'reflect my own views or the views of the party' (sic). It beggars belief! Without any question, the public is crying out for a change in governance and the ways in which we do things in this country. The report highlights many of the funding and capital issues which need to be addressed and full marks to the Senator for pointing these out. However if the content of the study is indicative of a changing attitude and approach among our politicians, particularly those representing the Labour Party, it leaves a lot to be desired. Clearly a lot of money was spent on this document. Truthfulness and honesty should not be lost in the small print and finer detail for the sake of political expediency. Yours, Colin Quigley, Chairman, INTO Athboy, Trim