Renaming Mississauga school causes controversy - Lyndwood School Cover-up - CBC

Some parents of students at a Mississauga elementary school say they want the Peel board to reverse a decision to rename their school after the board chair.

Hartsdale Avenue Public School is now known as Janet I. McDougald Public School.

Randy O'Malley isn't very pleased. He found out about the name change when the school sent a letter to parents last Friday.

"They could have changed it to the Canadian Veterans Memorial School, the Mississauga Firefighters Memorial School, the Police Officers Memorial School, honour people who have given their lives in service to this community and to the country, not just one politician," he said.

Janet McDougald is a long-time school trustee and the current chair of the Peel District School Board. She says she's honoured by the decision to name the school after her.

"This is certainly the best Christmas present I have ever received and certainly one my family will never be able to top," she said.

The decision to name the school after her was made last week by the board. It was a way of recognizing McDougald for her 23 years of service as a school trustee.

But some in the community don't think it's appropriate and are collecting signatures on a petition.

They intend to present that petition to the board but the odds are against them.

"The board names schools and they have named this school for me," said McDougald, "so I have no intention of declining."

severn 99 2011/12/08

at 10:39 PM ET There have been several comments that a school could be named after a teacher or principal before it is named after a sitting politician. In fact this was already done 39 years ago when Neil C Matheson Junior Public School was given its name in a special ceremony on June 25, 1972. As stated in a Lakeview history book, it was named for a very dedicated man who had spent 33 years serving Lakeview Schools. Mr. Matheson was a very respected and dedicated principal in Lakeview for 33 years. One of the schools that was replaced by Hartsdale Avenue school was Neil C Matheson Junior Public School. So, in fact, MacDougald's name is replacing an existing one. Apparently, nobody at the board is interested in preserving history or his name.

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hiohiohio 2011/12/07

at 1:37 AM ETLink to online petition to stop the name change of Hartsdale:
http://www.petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/stop-hartsdale-avenue-public-school-from-being-renamed/607

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Canmon 2011/12/06

at 10:12 PM ET"The board names schools and they have named this school for me"

She's the chair of the board. She named it for herself.

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HalifaxHabsFan 2011/12/06

at 8:36 PM ETTo this decision I say "booooo"

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Suecacoa 2011/12/06

at 6:32 PM ET"The board names schools and they have named this school for me," said McDougald, "so I have no intention of declining."

No, Ms. McDougald, clearly you have no intention of declining. Your deep humility in this matter is breathtaking(ly absent).

Your 23 years as a low-level municipally elected local official (at a low of government so low that not even all Canadians agree that local school boards are warranted) so obviously outweighs the sacrifices of armed forces, police, fire and EMT workers who have died in the line of battle/fire/work. Not to mention scientists, researchers, doctors, nurses, test pilots and inventors

Your vital contribution has held this country together, enhanced its international reputation and has saved lives! It is such a magnificent opus of decisions rendered and votes cast that it dwarfs anything else done by anyone in this country and surely it merits the naming of a publicly funded building after you, in perpetuity.

No, you're not a typical, self-aggrandizing retired politician at all.

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Athemus 2011/12/06

at 6:22 PM ETIt's happened to other schools. Nelson A. Boylen is an example. However, Boylen (the man) was on the York and North York Boards or Education for 35 years. He was also a deputy reeve, reeve (i.e. mayor) and councillor for North York. And the school was named after him well after he left politics.

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Skinny Dipper 2011/12/06

at 5:53 PM ET
One should be cautious about naming a school, any other significant place, or street after a current politician or executive officer. While this person may deserve to have a school named after her, it would have been more appropriate to wait until she finished her position as board chair.

Also, one should be extra careful about renaming an existing school. A current school name does have meaning. If names of a school are to change every few years, then the social cohesion of the school community will soon disappear.

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