Madam, - Lost in the annual commotion about "feeder schools" is the hard reality for those of us living outside the "golden circle": in our neighbourhood, there aren't any secondary schools within walking distance - not for boys, at least. As for schools that send more than 20 per cent of their pupils to university (and that admit boys), there isn't a single one that can be reached directly by public transport - that is, there isn't one that wouldn't exclude us on religious grounds. Surely a childhood spent commuting is too high a price to pay for the right to a secondary education. - Is mise,
JOANNE MANCINI, Inchicore, Dublin 8.
Madam, - I assume that The Irish Times is still capable of at least mildly challenging thought. What is the point of your feeder school list as published on November 29th?
As a guidance counsellor operating in the real world, I am proud that our students have chosen a diverse number of colleges, have chosen colleges appropriate to their interests and abilities, have chosen in many cases not to go to college or to postpone such a choice.
The day when the school where I work appears at the top of one of your meaningless lists, where our students all opt to go straight to college or to one particular college, I shall retire, if I can afford to. As many of our students might say: Get a Life! - Yours, etc,
KEVIN BUCKLEY, Blarney, Co Cork.