Name changing has been in the news more than ever recently. Now, with London preparing to have a formal discussion of renaming city assets this year, it’ll be in the news much more. Many believe it to be an important step in reconciliation. Others believe it to be a waste of time—or worse—erasing history.
Ryerson Elementary has officially changed their name to Old North Public School. The name change comes amid controversy of Ryerson’s complicated history with the education system. He contributed a lot to education, but not all that he contributed should be celebrated.
Professor Tom Peace is a history professor at Huron University. His research and his specialty surrounds colonialism in Canada. He also has two children that attend the school.
He says Ryerson’s impact on the education system is too vast and complex to fit in a soundbite on the radio or a quick article on the web. Still, he explains some of the reasons why parents and Londoners are looking for a change.
“With Ryerson . . . his public reputation has changed to such an extent, that for many of us, he now evokes and calls attention to the traumas of the Residential School system.”
He says that the main motivation for changing the name of the school comes from a specific report.
“The motivation really stems from an 1847 report that Ryerson wrote, encouraging the development of industrial schooling for Indigenous children. In light of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and the voices of survivors– which are now heard much more broadly than they have been in the past– many of us have called for a renewed look at some of the leaders in Canadian history.”
He also adds that he isn’t in favour of changing the names of everything. That, he says, has its own risks.
“Okay, today we’re going to talk about Ryerson. Next week, we’ll talk about Dundas. Three weeks after that, we’ll talk about the Crusaders. That seems to me to be very inefficient. It risks having the same argument over and over again.”
He says that we should re-frame the question of whether or not we should change the past to whether or not we change the future.
“This is a colonial place. That’s just what it is. What’s good about that and what’s not good about that? Let’s see if we can identify the things that we don’t think are good about it. We can change them. I think we all end up in a better place.”
“Sometimes these debates get about, ‘oh, you’re erasing history’ . . . I really think that it doesn’t need to be that way. The real question is: how can we build a city where everyone who lives here feels like they’re at home.”
“Names mean so many different things to different people. There’s no doubt that the name Ryerson has positive connotations for many people in the city. My kids go to the school, it’s a wonderful school community. The teachers there are fantastic. I would ask somebody to turn that around. ‘What if your memories weren’t positive about the school, and particularly because of the name? What if the name prevented you from having a positive vision of your school?’”
Professor Peace hopes that this name change teaches his kids something. The history is important but, like he says, it’s very complicated– especially for elementary students. He says that ultimately he wants his kids to learn more about their role in society.
“I’m hoping that they learn that we live in a society where people can raise a concern and that they’re listened to. And that these are opportunities to hear what our neighbors are saying, hear what we’re saying to each other, and to learn from them.”
The Thames Valley District School Board voted unanimously on the new name. There were three options they could choose from:
- Old North Public School
- Phyllis Webstad Public School
- Murray Sinclair Public School
The names were decided by a selection committee and a poll was issued to the families of students in December. Old North won the poll with 77% of the vote.
Other schools named Ryerson are also making changes. The Toronto University voted to change their name in August.
As discussions ramp up around changing names, professor Peace says its important to dialogue.
“But for the most part, it’s about talking to each other . . . We’re suppose we live in a community and if our neighbors don’t feel safe, then we got a problem.”
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