“Sir, – The recent correspondence from Dr Michael O’Connell (Letters, October 24th) claiming ‘genes’ are what matter most in determining educational attainment is not supported by empirical research internationally. First, there is a vast body of well-documented peer-reviewed scientific evidence that educational attainment in schools and colleges is strongly influenced by wealth, both directly through investment in quality school and college resources, including good teaching, and indirectly, through private family investment in extracurricular activities and ancillary educational goods and services …” (more)
[Kathleen Lynch, Irish Times, 30 October]