Comments on: Is “Manatee High School” Already Taken? http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2008/10/29/is-manatee-high-school-already-taken/ Closing the Achievement Gap: Teaching Content Sat, 21 Nov 2009 17:59:33 -0600 hourly 1 By: Jay P. Greene http://blog.coreknowledge.org/2008/10/29/is-manatee-high-school-already-taken/comment-page-1/#comment-4742 Jay P. Greene Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:39:01 +0000 http://www.coreknowledge.org/blog/?p=1318#comment-4742 A school name is an opportunity for a community to communicate its values to its children. So, I have no problem with a school name being changed if they find that the name deviates from the fundamental values that the community wishes to promote. My problem is with the selection of names that don't particularly mean anything to anybody. Conlfict-averse school boards are increasingly drawn to names that sound more like herbal teas or day spas precisely because they are perfectly innocuous and do not represent any values. Of course, I would also have a problem with changing a name based on an inaccurate understanding of history or an understanding that lacked proper historical perspective and balance. I don't know enough about Forrest to say whether they have a proper understanding of him. But I sure hope that Firestone means something to that community. A school name is an opportunity for a community to communicate its values to its children. So, I have no problem with a school name being changed if they find that the name deviates from the fundamental values that the community wishes to promote. My problem is with the selection of names that don’t particularly mean anything to anybody. Conlfict-averse school boards are increasingly drawn to names that sound more like herbal teas or day spas precisely because they are perfectly innocuous and do not represent any values.

Of course, I would also have a problem with changing a name based on an inaccurate understanding of history or an understanding that lacked proper historical perspective and balance.

I don’t know enough about Forrest to say whether they have a proper understanding of him. But I sure hope that Firestone means something to that community.

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