Teachers told they have 'unique role'

The Nobel-prize winning poet Seamus Heaney has told teachers they can have a profound impact on the future development of Irish society.

He was addressing over 200 secondary school teachers at an ASTI conference in Dublin.

The aim of the conference was to highlight the social importance of education during the downturn.

ASTI General Secretary John White said: "There is, I think, a false devaluation of everybody who works for the public service; and whilst we all recognise there is a recession and that we all have to play our part in recovering from this recession, it should be done without devaluing the work of people in the public service. We have to get out of this recession without vilifying any section of our community."

During his speech to the conference Poet Laureate Seamus Heaney emphaised the importance of education.

He said: "For years to come your influence and affect will have consequences in the body politic. The students who go out into society at the end of their school life will be the anti-bodies in the Ireland of the future. Education has a unique role to play in the creation and maintenance of social solidarity and enduring social values."