'Change is inevitable'
FROM: Past Pupil.
I find myself somewhat amused yet excited by the recent cover story on the ‘MAIL’. As a very recent past pupil of both St Paul’s JHS and St Michael’s Grammar School I believe the amalgamation of the schools is long overdue.
Having personally come through this Dickson Plan which has “served so well for many years” I cannot say it is an education process that I would recommend. My transition between St Paul’s and St Michael’s was unsettling to say the least. After the hype of transfer tests in primary seven I was only settling into St Paul's before the discussions and emphasis on St Michael’s exams began. After three short years in a new school I found it was time to make the traumatic move from one school to another - again!
Don’t get me wrong, St Michael’s was a good school but it was St Paul’s that laid down the foundations of discipline, manners and desire to achieve the best that I can in my life.
As a past pupil of both school I believe the fear of the amalgamation comes down to one thing - snobbery!
It is obvious from the story and letters from “concerned parents and teachers” the ‘MAIL’ that St Michael’s is terrified of loosing their title as a grammar school. If the three local school amalgamated and more Lurgan school children decided to travel to Newry and Armagh, then so what? The cream of Lurgan’s school children already go to these schools, travelling a great distance each day. This will always be the case.
Students at grammar level existed in St Paul’s alongside those with slower learning abilities. Why can’t this work in one large school for children aged 11-18?
From my experience both St Paul’s and St Michael’s each did a fabulous job. Surely mixing these two strengths together, alongside St Mary’s too, can only create one strong institution for future generations of young people in Lurgan. I look forward to the period of consultation as my voice will certainly be heard. Perhaps I’m wrong but I always thought that the brightest children with a desire to learn will always shine through no matter what title and status of the school and whether or not they are mixed with students of greater or lesser ability.
It’s time Catholic young people were treated as one, instead of being divided through academic ability. The nonsense of starting a new school and then having to move on to another school within a short space of time is an experience I will never put my child through, no matter how good the reputation of either school.
Change is inevitable.
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Weather for Carrick
Wednesday 23 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 20 C
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Wind direction: South
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Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
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