Half of those who responded to an online school district survey about whether to change the name of George Jay Elementary School because of Jay’s racist views were in favour of the move, according to the Greater Victoria School District.
Another 37 per cent opposed any change, although just under 13 per cent said they might support it if they knew what the naming options were.
Jay, Victoria’s school board chairman from 1907 to 1934, was known for promoting segregationist policies for Chinese-Canadian students, the district has said.
That included initiating a 1907 regulation that Chinese children had to pass an English test before being allowed in public schools, although other nationalities did not have to do so.
In the early 1920s, Jay directed that more than 200 Chinese elementary students in public schools should be moved to facilities on Kings Road and in Rock Bay, which led to a strike by Chinese students that lasted a year.
The district is seeking community input on whether the school should be renamed “to better align with current district values and policies around diversity and inclusive-learning communities.”
On Monday night, trustees looked at survey comments from more than 2,500 people and the results of a November open house.
A decision will be made in January on whether to strike a committee to rename the Princess Avenue school, district chairwoman Jordan Watters said.
“That’s where we’ll find out where everybody stands and how we’re going to move forward or not.”
According to a district report on the survey, some who responded to the survey argued changing the name would amount to erasing history, while others said the school should be renamed but still include a plaque recognizing George Jay, and still more called for Chinese-Canadians and First Nations to be consulted on any name change.
Among the answers posted on the survey:
• This seems to be long overdue considering George Jay’s segregationist ideologies.
• I am a descendant of Chinese immigrants to the country who came to Victoria in the early 1900s. My parents were discriminated against because they were Chinese, in public movie theatres, swimming pools and school, not to mention jobs and housing. I wholeheartedly support the renaming of the school to better reflect today’s inclusive values.
• It is important to repudiate racism by renaming this school. I would like to see a wider program of reviewing the names of all the schools in the district.
• Don’t rename the school. What a waste of money. Spend the money where it is needed more, like in the classrooms.
• Renaming is a slippery slope. What is next?
