HISTORY could be rewritten as students at an all-girls' school push to change the all-male names of their guilds.
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PLC Armidale Year 12 students have taken charge of a movement that started some seven years earlier, to see the school houses named after people who they feel better represent women.
It has ruffled a few feathers with some of the school's Old Girls, who would all have been placed in either Forrest, Wentworth, Gregory or Macquarie.
The first question principal Nicola Taylor asked the students was how new names would add value to the college.
"I thought there should be a compelling reason, rather than change for change's sake," she said.
"The girls indicated that being able to tell the story behind the guild would strengthen that belonging and connection.
"There was a lot of research done into the history of the names and it was unusual each guild was named after men at the only all-girls school between Sydney and the QLD border."
From pre-kindergarten, students are assigned a house, or guild, which they remain in until graduation in Year 12.
The students believe the men the guilds are named after, Sir John Forrest, William Wentworth, Augustus Gregory and Lachlan Macquarie honours men who expressed 'racist and chauvinistic tendencies'.
Instead, they want the names changed to honour accomplished Australian women or the previous locations of the school.
Historical documents show the guilds were brought in about 80 years ago by an educator who wanted to uphold the Scottish heritage of the Presbyterian Church.
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The feedback has indicated that for some the connection has more to do with the guild, rather than the history of the name, Ms Taylor said.
"Most importantly I have tried to guide the girls and they are very aware that a community is transgenerational, so they need to honour the past, present and future," she said.
"As young women these students have both strong convictions but a sensitivity to building our school community."
PLC Armidale has opened the issue up for feedback from the school community and will first decide whether a change should be made, and if so whether it should be to Australian women or past locations.