To the editor:
Re: "Class Notes: What's in a name?" Feb. 15.
Sadly, there are few names of females used for schools in Canada. We all know that when you educate girls and women that they in turn make certain that their children (boys and girls) are educated. One would think that for that reason alone, we would honour women by naming schools after them.
There are a number of aboriginal names, past and present, that could be used. The school does not have to be one only for aboriginal people to use such a name. There are numbers of successful aboriginal role models whose names can be used and if some research is done, many from the past.
For example, Mildred Valley Thornton a talented and well-known artist at the turn of the century not only painted dozens of aboriginal portraits, but also wrote details about their lives. I am reading a library book now about her and it has many choices that would be suitable. There are also political women in B.C., past and present, who should be honoured by naming a school after them. I will be surprised, however if a female's name is chosen.
Maggie Burtinshaw, Vancouver
