I don’t want segregation

SIR, — I am keeping a close eye on your story about plans to merge Downpatrick Catholic secondary schools into one big college.

As my children are of primary school age I have not yet been asked to give my opinion on the proposal.  

While I understand people get very emotional when talking about their schools I hope the decision makers won’t be swayed by those shouting at them to leave their school alone.

I want my son and daughters to go to the same school and am convinced this would be a more natural continuance of their mixed primary school days.

Downpatrick must be one of the only towns left in Northern Ireland where brothers and sisters are segregated according to their gender and their supposed intelligence at 11. 

Can we not look beyond the ‘not in my back yard’ mentality?

I was lucky enough to go to a mixed school in Belfast and would want that experience for my own children.

Yours etc,

CONCERNED MUM,

Downpatrick.