Former Sion school principal to give talk on integrated education

A FORMER principal of Sion Mills Primary School will be giving a talk in the village later this month called ‘Reflections on Integrated Education’.

The presentation by Oonagh McNelis is being hosted by the Sion Mills Buildings Preservation Trust at the Stables on Wednesday, April 17, starting at 7.30pm.

Mrs McNelis was principal of the primary school for eight years, before retiring last August.

She worked for over 40 years in the education sector as both a teacher and principal most of that time in the village school.

The former principal said, “The story of integration in education for Sion Mills goes right back to the very beginning of the formation of the village in the years following the arrival of the Herdman brothers who set up a flax spinning mill in the area in 1835.

“Sion Mills Primary School has just been granted official status as an integrated school, which seems ironic in view of the fact that the village has never known anything other than an integrated system of education.

“There can be no doubt that the notion of integrated education championed by the Herdmans and perpetuated by talented and dedicated teachers and school governors and parents has played a vital part in producing in Sion Mills a well-integrated community.”

Sion Mills Primary School was established for the education of the children of those working in the Mill in the mid-1800s. The Herdman brothers set up a flax spinning mill in the area in 1835.

The school was given integrated status last year. However, it has always been known to support inclusion with a local survey in the mid-1970s showing 94 per-cent of parents in favour of the system.