ABSTRACT
The idea of the Transition Year programme was put forward in April 1974 by the then Irish Minister for Education, Richard Burke. In a speech delivered at the annual dinner of one of the teachers' unions, the Minister said: Because of the growing pressure on students for high grades and competitive success, educational systems are becoming, increasingly, academic treadmills. The suggestion was made that perhaps somewhere in the middle of the course teachers might stop the treadmill and release the students from the educational pressures for one year so that they could devote their time to personal development and community service. In the same speech the Minister issued an open invitation asking any schools interested in introducing such a year to write to him. The writer responded to this invitation on behalf of Newpark School and indicated interest in exploring the possibilities which such a scheme might offer.
