Board position and our reply

The DSBN is after one year now saying that they did not associate the name Wellington with the First Dukeof Wellington. They are saying they are using the name because the children chose it because it would make them reach for lofty goals. Below is our response. We would like as many people as possible to email warren.hoshizaki@dsbn.org and dale.robinson@dsbn.org and cc to linda.couch@dsbn.org and tell them you do not accept their explanation and that you want them to re examine the name change since this name is connected to so many negative issues. Ask them for a reply. School Board's Official Stance and Names Matter Reply Well people, here it is! The District School Board of Niagara ( DSBN) has given us a letter with their official stance. The board said they heard our concerns, but did they listen? All they seemed to hear was the fact that the community was upset with the name change. Did they listen to our concerns of racial ties, British colonialism and poor treatment of Indigenous people and Residential Schools? Did they hear when we told them that more students chose the name E. W. Farr than Wellington Heights? As it says, they refused to reconsider the naming on June 27, 2016. End of story! Before this date June 27,2016 and before the Names Matter group even existed, the DSBN received two separate letters from different parents informing them of the issue of Wellington's racist views. Since the DSBN was made aware of the facts, does this mean the DSBN knowingly used an unsuitable name- a name associated with racism for a public school? All this time, we have given them the benefit of the doubt that they did not know his history but maybe they knew all along! And just didn't care? As soon as ties to racism were brought to the DSBN's attention, common sense should have dictated further research and a disqualification of the name. Names Matter have brought it to their attention many times and have until recently never received a response. Maybe they thought just ignoring us would make us go away. We, the people who elected them. Next election is only 17 months away and we will remember!!! Now the DSBN are hiding behind the students. They say the students chose the name. Well, we know that 13 students did pick the name: however, what about the 27 students who chose the historically relevant name of E.W.Farr? Why do the voices of 13 Matter but the voices of 29 do not matter? The DSBN says the word " heights" is meaningful and inspiring for the students, that they will reach for lofty goals. We applaud and support our children in reaching for their highest individual potential, however, we support them with truths and facts, not with proposed places, incorrect numbers and half truths. Also, would this not have been a prime opportunity for the teachers involved to teach children about the unreliability of many things found on the internet and the fact that they should cross check their work? If you check Wikipedia now, you will see that the site has been revised and there is no mention of the proposed fort. We are being accused of attempts to " misrepresent the name of the school as something nefarious completely at odds with the facts". Well, the researched and historically documented facts are - - this man held and was vocal about his very anti Jewish views his whole life. He was involved with the British failure to honour promises made to Indigenous people when negotiating the treaty to end the War of 1812. He was Prime Minister when Britain gave approval for the school for Indigenous children to be built in Brantford and this school became the model upon which the Residential school system was based. We are not misrepresenting the facts. The DSBN and anyone who does not rely wholly on the internet could find these things out if they did their due diligence. The people responsible within the DSBN did not check the whole story so now they are trying to deflect the issue by saying we are "insulting the good intentions of the students." Do they really feel, that if the students had been given ALL the facts, they would have chosen this name? Kids are smarter than that! Everyone understands that putting a name on a public building is a way of honouring that name and the person it represents. Saying that it is " no way an effort to honour the Duke of Wellington" is ludicrous. In an letter sent home to the parents from principal Sue Lawrence on May 26, 2016 she indicated that the" proposed fort was named after the Duke of Wellington ". If, as the DSBN now claims, the name was chosen because it would " inspire children" why was that not included in the explanation in this very first letter to the parents from the school administration after the name was approved?( we have a copy of this letter if anyone wants to see it) The DSBN says that the school is not connected to his " views, actions or any statement he is purported to have made". How can you use a person's name and ignore what it stands for? You can't! You cannot pick and choose the parts you want. It is a whole package. Purported-One dictionary meaning of the word is " to claim falsely ". Without coming out and saying it, the DSBN is implying that we made up the quote attributed to Wellington " we do not wish Jews to come and settle here". Once again, the DSBN failed to check before they made this statement. These words were said --not " purported to be said" on Aug.1 1833 in a speech Wellington made in the British House of Lords and his entire actual speech can be read if you go to The speeches of the Duke of Wellington in Parliament at google books .ca The DSBN and the community do agree on one thing and that is the need to support our young people and to celebrate their contributions. At no time have we thought to " cast aspersions on the efforts of the students". However, decisions should not be made based on incomplete and /or misleading information. In Oct 2016, when some of the students realized that they had made a mistake they sent a letter signed by 23 of them to the DSBN asking for the trustees to help them fix it. The students identified a problem, owned up to the fact that they had made an error and took the initiative to try and fix it. The responses from the DSBN trustees were polite but firm. It is already done. Move on. How is that for listening and showing the students that they Matter? How is that supporting the students and helping them to become responsible citizens? The DSBN seems to think that it is only our group that does not support this name. They refuse to recognize that most of the Pelham community at large is in opposition. For many people, this opposition comes from the fact that the DSBN : - used a name that portrays British colonialism and all it represents -failed to adequately follow the guidelines of the A-09 naming policy - did not provide the students with all documented information -manipulated to the numbers in such a way as to ensure they got the result they wanted -did not share all the pertinent information with the naming committee at the school level - did not clearly inform the community - refused to listen to community input As to the students having come together and embraced the name, we would challenge the Trustees to come and talk with the senior students and find their real feelings about the name. At this point the main objective now is to be sure that an honourable name is placed on our school building: a name that not only stands for inclusion and acceptance but a name that is free from any hint of discrimination and racism. Names Matter Supported by: Val Ker -the Archdeacon for Truth, Reconciliation and Indigenous Ministry for the Anglican Diocese of Niagara-member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte- Wolf Clan St. Catharines Folk Arts Multicultural Centre Many local Churches MPP Sam Oosterhoff 29 local businesses Over 700 local residents and former students