Secret Teacher: How would we eulogise the Irish education system?

Our columnist invites you to a thought experiment regarding the education system in its present form.

How would you say goodbye to the Irish education system?

Funerals can be the first time you get to know someone. The details of their life. What they stood for. I remember my first. It was an uncle, and I was about eight. My legs trembled as I approached the open coffin and another uncle, my dad’s brother, put his hands on my shoulder to steady me. I’ve always loved him for that.

The eulogy the following day eased my sadness too. People talked about the charitable things my uncle had done. He’d looked after vulnerable people suffering from addiction, used his privilege to help the less fortunate. He’d been a good man. And so we celebrated him.