Sir, - Patrick Kinsella (October 14th) of incorrigible naivety thinks that the publication of school exam results may provide the evidence we need to propel us into redressing the imbalance between rich and poor children. We have that evidence in front of us every day, yet choose, as a society, to do little about it.
Publication of exam results will further widen the gap between the education of rich and poor as parents scramble to get their children into schools with the best exam results - which, almost invariably, will be the more affluent schools in more affluent areas.
Schools need to be more accountable and teachers need to be appraised. Crude publication of exam results will do nothing to help the education system and much to harm it. - Yours, etc.,
Frances Shearer, Greenhill Road, Wicklow, Co Wicklow.