Passionate views were aired during a public meeting on controversial proposals to rename St. David's Primary School in honour of former principal Hilton C. Richardson.

Some Islanders have argued that the current name is an intrinsic part of St. David's while others have complained about a lack of consultation over the move. A petition was sent to Minister of Education Randolph Horton, who hosted the meeting at the school last night to explain the decision and gather feedback.

He said Mr. Richardson, who taught at the school for 47 years and made a lasting contribution to the community, deserved to be honoured.

"The bottom line is we believe that we must celebrate our heroes. We believe that our children do not know enough about our history," he told the 40-strong audience.

"They don't know who did what in this country and I believe that knowing who their people are will certainly help them become better people and help them understand their communities better and the like."

Taking the floor during an open mic session after the Minister's presentation, Yuri Richards, father of two pupils at the school, said: "It's good to know all this stuff, he was a great man, but if you ask any of my children to point him out in a picture? I'm not saying I'm not for it, but it seems like we were led into it without information."

Mr. Horton replied: "If we move this way your children will certainly know who he is. I'm certainly prepared to acknowledge that we could have put more information out (before the decision). I would certainly acknowledge that."

Darlene Robinson asked why the school was chosen when there were others that could be renamed.

"We feel it's so significant that it stays there. It's St. David's. We're different. We're different to the rest of the Island. Yes there are people who've moved here but we are St. David's Islanders. Our slang is different. Our upbringing was different. If it ain't broke don't fix it," she said.

A man who didn't give his name said the status quo should remain, but was concerned that the debate is turning St. David's Islanders against each other and making Mr. Richardson's family feel his name is being discredited.

"We could build a statue or change the name of the hall or have a whole week of history (dedicated to him.) There are other options... when you say there are no other things that can be done you're going to polarise people and I don't think Mr. Richardson would want that," he said.

Leslie James said St. David's Primary School is a unique family unlike other schools.

"It's St. David's Primary School. You have to be here to appreciate it. Everybody is important. Don't divide it," she warned.

Mr. Horton's response that he did not think the name change would alter the family spirit was met with mutters from the audience of "you're missing the point."

Other participants argued that it is important to actually teach children Bermudian history rather than just renaming buildings. Llewellyn Simmons, Director of Academics at the Ministry of Education, responded that such history is part of the curriculum, but acknowledged that not all teachers are actually teaching it.

"Even those who are teaching it don't know who they are in relation to the content that's to be taught," he said, reassuring the audience that their passionate views on this subject would not be dismissed.

George Cannonier was the first person to tell the meeting he was in favour of the name change.

"I don't always agree with everything Government does but in this case you're hitting the nail right on the head," he told the Minister. "I think the Government is trying to do something for the people while in power, and this is an opportunity to honour one of our local heroes."

However, he added: "I don't like the way it was put to the people but the Government always does strange things like that."

Another person in favour was Albert Fox Jr., whose grandfather Charles Hilgrove Gawthorpe (WarBaby) Fox had a fast ferry named in his honour in 2006. "Mr. Richardson, like my grandfather, was a pioneer. I don't see why it should be a big issue about the name," he said.

Mr. Horton pledged to take the feedback to his Progressive Labour Party colleagues through the central committee and also to Cabinet. However, he revealed last night that Cabinet has already approved the name change.

Mr. Richardson's granddaughter Cindy O'Brien – who wants all former principals of the school including her grandfather to be honoured by rooms being named after them, rather than rename the whole school – was frustrated by that news.

"Why would they do that if they didn't have the intention to change it anyway? It means 'tonight we will listen to the people but it's going to happen. We'll do what we want to do'," she told The Royal Gazette after the meeting.

Ms O'Brien believes her grandfather would not have wanted all the controversy associated with the plan to honour his name, and said most of her family are against the move.