REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A GARDEN PARTY IN HONOUR OF TEACHERS ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MCALEESE AT A GARDEN PARTY IN HONOUR OF TEACHERS ÁRAS AN UACHTARÁIN TUESDAY, 1 JULY, 2008
Dia daoibh a chairde agus bhur gcéad míle fáilte chuig Áras an Uachtaráin. Cuireann sé lúcháir orm féin agus ar Mháirtín sibh a fheiceáil anseo agus muid ag cur tús le séasúr na gcóisirí nó “Oíche na Gaoithe Móire” mar a dúirt an file fadó, sa ghairdín. Tá togha na cuideachta anseo mar atá múinteoirí na hÉireann bailithe le chéile faoi togha na dídine.
Some of you here may remember the Vere Foster Copybooks that were once an integral part of every Irish classroom. On the cover of each copybook was a statement of Foster’s belief, ‘A nation’s greatness depends on the education of its people’.
Ireland is proof positive of the truth of that assertion. This is by far the best-educated generation in the history of Ireland and its collective brainpower has managed to overcome problems that were intractable for centuries - endemic poverty, widespread emigration and ongoing political conflict.
The Peace Bell that you passed as you entered this building is testament to the massive changes that have been wrought in the short period of time that coincides with the advent of free second-level education and the widening of access to third level. It is, of course, no coincidence, nor is the evident rise in prosperity, despite the current, gloomier, short-term, global difficulties.
We have stemmed the waste of talent and of hope that characterised much of our island’s history well into the last quarter of the previous century. Much of that exported talent and hope, however, was planted in other countries, other cultures, where it flourished, creating a formidable ambassadorship for Ireland which we too are the beneficiaries of.
The story of success at home and success against the odds abroad is not a story of coincidences but of commitment - the commitment of those who chose the great vocation of teaching whatever the ups and downs of the times. Through that vocation they introduced each unique pupil to his or her abilities and talents, developed their strengths, helped them devise coping strategies to manage and overcome their weaknesses and sent them out into the world as well equipped as they could, to become the best people they could.
No two pupils were ever quite the same. No two came or went precisely the same life’s journey. Patrick Pearse told of the father who sought his advice, ‘My son is not good at books; he is no good at work; he is good at nothing but playing the tin whistle. What am I to do with him?’ To which Pearse replied, ‘Buy him a tin whistle.’
Our country’s success hinges on the extent to which each of you and the generations of teachers to come can help each of us to find our own equivalent to the “tin whistle”, to master it, to let our lives find through it fulfilment, purpose, passion and so make our contribution to the world around us. Yours is a fascinating job. It takes a lot of daily patience and a willingness to wait long beyond the exam results and the measurable outcomes, to the day when all those immeasurable values and insights merge in the strong citizen who was once the classroom child.
Your investment, individually and collectively, deserves a lot of thanks. What is more, I know that for each one of you retirement did not mark the end of that investment but the beginning of a wide range of new expressions of it. Today is just one small way of saying a heartfelt thanks to each of you and through you to all our other teachers, whether retired or not.
Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sult as an Áras álainn seo, go bhfaighidh sibh blas ar an bhia, agus go mbeidh seans agaibh am a chaitheamh le seanchairde, agus b’fhéidir le cairde nua.
On your behalf and on that of Martin and myself, I thank the wonderful entertainers who have helped to make today so special for all of us. Thanks also to our friends in the Civil Defence, the Gardaí, the Tour Guides and all the staff here at the Áras who have all worked so hard to make today a success.
Guím tráthnóna iontach oraibh agus turas slán abhaile ina dhiaidh. Go raibh mile maith agaibh go léir.