Change name of Davin School, Regina professor says

There's a debate growing about whether Regina's Davin School should change its name to something that doesn't evoke the painful historicallegacy of Indian residential schools.

"We simply cannot tolerate any discriminatory beliefs when they're attached to a school," said Marc Spooner, a professor of education at the University of Regina.

The 87-year-oldelementary school in the city's Crescents neighbourhood is named after Nicholas FloodDavin, the Regina journalist and politicianwho, in 1879, wrote an influential report that led to the creationofCanada's residential school system.

Spooner says when he read that report which advocates assimilation,says "little can be done" with adult Indians and arguesday schools don't workhe was appalled.

"Both in terms of policy, but also in the report which became again the blueprint for our residential schools in Canada, I was a little horrified," Spoonersaid, adding that he personally advocates changingthe name of Davin School.

Finding anothername mightbe long process

Greg Enion, the director of education of Regina's public school division,says the school name could change, butit is still very early in that conversation.

"I think it's a decision for down the road," Enion said.

"Certainly, as the director I believe that there's many stakeholders that would need to have input into that decision."

Enion said the process that followedthe controversy over the "Balfour Redmen" high schoolteam name might be followed here.

• RELATED:Balfour Collegiate changes name from Redmen to Bears

In that case, extensive consultation with the community preceded the switch to a new name.

Enion described the Davin Report as "a very negative part of our history" that needs to be acknowledged.

With the expansion of residental schools in the 20th century,aboriginalchildren were removed from their homesand forced to give up theirlanguage and culture.

Thousands of those students were physically and sexually abused, including manyfrom Saskatchewan.

In 2008, then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to First Nations on behalf of the federal government. The government offered financial settlements to former students starting in 2007.

• HISTORICAL DOCUMENT:DavinReport (1879)