Classroom tragedy - Reformers must become more forceful

The murder of teacher Anne Maguire, 61, at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds on Monday, where she taught Spanish and had a profound, positive influence for 41 years, should give us all pause for thought.

The first consideration is that we must question the circumstances around the classroom tragedy and ask if a teacher like Ms Maguire, just weeks from retirement, might be the victim of such an attack in Ireland. And of course the answer must be, no matter how unpalatable or unimaginable, “yes”. That a 15 year-old boy is in custody on foot of the killing adds greatly to the tragedy but it also confirms that forces other than geography were at play. It makes no sense to hope that such dark, disturbing influences, what ever they might be, are not at play in this country.

Delegates at last week’s teacher conferences in Ireland reported on the growing threat they face in classrooms as they try to share one of the greatest gifts one person can give to another — an education.

It is not reactionary to insist that this kind of pupil behaviour is unacceptable and those who so threaten teachers forfeit the privilege — it is a privilege not a right, as the vast majority of the world’s population will confirm — our education system offers them. It is time the interests of the majority of pupils and of teachers took precedence over those who would squander their own opportunity and stymie their classmates by so doing. Of course issues around discipline and mutual, pro-active respect in schools are hugely important but they are just one element of the mosaic.

The legacy of our economic collapse has had a detrimental impact on the teaching profession and on teachers’ lives. The Teachers’ Union of Ireland estimates that one-in-three of its members have part-time rather than full-time work but this ratio tightens to one-in-two for teachers younger than 35. This is a recipe for something approaching disaster on myriad levels: professional development and security, consistency in the classroom, social and financial stability and even the basic prospect of being able to sustain a young family much less commitment to the job. It seems obvious that restoring greater, better structured opportunity and stability to the profession should be a priority.

But of course you can only aspire to climb that structure if you have a Catholic Church-endorsed Certificate in Religious Studies. Without it you should be, as Archbishop Diarmuid Martin suggested recently “be able to move to the type of school where they would be happier in accordance with their own conscience”. As we are talking about a State-funded schools in a society that calls itself a republic this seems worse than preposterous. It seems precisely the kind of exclusion and religious absolutism we are quick to criticise in other societies.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has shown an appetite for challenging age-old positions of authority and privilege but those who oppose his ambitions seem prepared to wait him out and hope that his successor might be less challenging. Mr Quinn — and all of the country’s teachers — must be encouraged to redouble their efforts around changing our education system — especially around patronage — because any successful society is built on a successful, well-funded and respected education system. It would be more than a pity if we had to wait for a tragedy like Monday’s before the force and urgency that noble project deserves was applied.