Description
The assignment focuses on Laura Secord Elementary School that is located at the following address: 2500 Lakewood Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4V1. As figure 1 shows, the school is a nice-looking 2-store building. It is placed on a quiet side street among private buildings. This fact denotes that children are protected from heavy traffic and crowds of people walking past the school. Pupils are also provided with an open space in front of the school where they can safely play and spend their free time.
Biographical Background
The school was named after Laura Secord, who was born as Ingersoll. This woman occupies a significant place in Canadian history because she is among a few heroines, and Laura manifested herself during the War of 1812. On June 21, 1813, Laura discovered that American forces would attempt to attack the British outpost at Beaver Dams (Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography n.d.). It was necessary to warn the British forces and the officer in charge, James FitzGibbon, but Laura’s husband, James Secord, was injured and could not cope with the task (Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography n.d.). That is why Laura walked approximately 20 miles to deliver the message. That warning allowed the British forces to prepare for the battle and ambush the Americans (Snell 2018). That heroic act did not provide Laura with any immediate benefits, and the Secords lived in poverty after the war (Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography n.d.). The woman received public recognition in the 1860s after the Prince of Wales highlighted her contribution (Snell 2018). Since then, Laura Secord has become a celebrated heroine in Canada.
It is worth stating that Laura’s legacy was associated with some controversies. In the 20th century, some historians stipulated that Secord’s contribution was useless because she had delivered the message to FitzGibbon late for the latter to use the information in his favor (Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography n.d.). However, when FitzGibbon’s testimonials were published, it became clear that Laura Secord had helped the British forces intercept the Americans (Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography n.d.). That is why there is no doubt that the heroine deservedly received public recognition.
There is no clear explanation of why the selected school was named after Laura Secord. However, the information above allows for making a reasonable suggestion. The selected heroine personifies self-sacrifice and the commitment to a common goal. Laura’s story additionally demonstrates that an average person can make a valuable contribution when society meets a crisis. That is why naming the school in her honor was a way to emphasize people who are ready to help achieve a shared objective. Furthermore, children should know their country’s history, and eternalizing Laura Secord in the school’s name is an appropriate step to cope with this task.
The Need for Change
Every nation has a rich history with its own heroes and enemies. It is a natural process when people want to perpetuate the most prominent figures in their history. A suitable strategy is to place statues or name streets and buildings after significant personalities, and this approach is equally found in Canada. The name of Laura Secord Elementary School appeared as a result of this process to highlight a prominent place of Laura Secord in Canadian history. It is good to eternalize prominent figures, but it can be reasonable to remove their mentioning if the personality’s role has been reconsidered.
To begin with, one should draw attention to the fact that naming the school after Laura Secord is a productive decision. On the one hand, sufficient evidence demonstrates that the woman made a significant contribution during the War of 1812. She engaged in self-sacrifice and walked approximately 20 miles to warn the British forces of an impending American attack (Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography n.d.). Since he helped save many lives, it was reasonable to immortalize her name in history. On the other hand, young individuals should learn about their country’s past, and naming public buildings after prominent figures is an effective strategy to popularize history. That is why it is not necessary to change the school’s name.
However, there are cases when some interventions are needed, and it can occur when a person’s role has been reconsidered. A recent example refers to the removal of a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald. The monument was displaced in 2021 because it was discovered that Canada’s residential school system created by Macdonald had resulted in physical harm and mental suffering for Indigenous children (Johnson 2021). Today, this practice is considered wrong, and it is not reasonable to eternalize Sir John A. Macdonald. Even though this person was previously respected, applying contemporary standards to past contexts is justified because a statue affects modern people. Thus, a monument of Macdonald could make some individuals believe that the nation respected his discriminatory practice. However, removing a statue does not denote that this person should be deleted from Canadian history.
In conclusion, the mini-essay indicates that placing statues as well as naming streets and public buildings after prominent figures is standard practice. Laura Secord Elementary School was named after a heroine that walked a long and exhausting distance to warn British forces of an impending American attack. However, further analysis reveals that some figures’ legacies can be reconsidered, which can lead to their removal from the list of honored personalities. Thus, a statue of Sir John A. Macdonald was removed when it appeared that his residential school system had led to suffering among Indigenous children.
Bibliography
Dictionary of Canadian Bibliography. n.d. “Ingersoll, Laura (Secord).” Web.
Johnson, Kimberley. 2021. “Sir John A. Macdonald Statue Removed from Kingston, Ont. Park.” CTV News. Web.
Snell, Rachel A. 2018. “ˈGod, Home, and Countryˈ: Women, Historical Memory, and National Identity in English, Canada, and the United States.” American Review of Canadian Studies 48 (2): 244-255.