Madam, - I agree with the opinions expressed by Paul McCarty and Linda Richardson on the proposed introduction of "Standard Literacy Testing" in the first and sixth years of primary schooling. (The Irish Times, July 19th).
This imported educational philosophy is straight out of the Margaret Thatcher school of programming.
It has turned teachers into testers and has lowered the overall standards of education in Britain.
Labelling children as slow learners at such an early age, which will be the outcome of such testing, is tantamount to abuse.
All children are different and all children have learning difficulties of one sort or another, which are different for each individual child.
What is needed for all children at primary level is assessment by teachers and educational psychologists for learning differences and disabilities and appropriate programmes put in place.
Early diagnosis and intervention help to reduce the effect of learning differences so knowledge and identification of symptoms are essential for both parents and teachers alike.
Padraig Pearse called the educational system in Ireland, then under British rule, "The Murder Machine".
Were he around today and looked at Noel Dempsey's proposals, I doubt if he'd change his mind. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL O'DONNELL,
St Patrick's Hill,
Cork.