TDSB to review school names with a focus on diversity
Posted April 28, 2021 12:28 pm.
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is going to conduct a city-wide review of school names in a move is to better reflect the diversity of the city.
The TDSB is putting together a special group to carry out the review with the goal of having a plan together by the end of June.
The group will include students, parents, teachers, and members of the community as well as people involved in anti-racism work.
The school board says the plan aims to improve the naming and renaming process for schools to ensure that school names better represent the diverse people, cultures, and history of Toronto, including, but not limited to, Indigenous and Black leaders and the contemporary values of the city.
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“It’s important that our schools and programs, including the names of schools, reflect the diverse people and communities that we celebrate at the TDSB. I fully support this plan and look forward to reviewing the proposal,” said Alexander Brown, Chair of the TDSB.
Karen Falconer, Interim Director of Education, says that giving TDSB students and communities a voice that influences the name of the school they attend “offers an invaluable sense of agency as well as builds trust and strengthens school-community relationships.”
“Our role is to listen to ensure that every voice is heard, especially those who have not always been heard, and that every experience is honoured through this process.”
