Criterion to name buildings in schools

[Anonymous]

I noticed something very strange in a private school.

Normally new buildings are named after big donors. I guess is fair game. They give a big chunk of money and in exchange they get to name the building.

Now. In this school the building was name after the HOS while the person was working at the school. Is that usual?

The reason i am asking this is that most likely the building was financed by parents and multiple donors, so perhaps a better idea could have been to name it in a more neutral way.

For the trolls, yes schools can name buildings whatever they want.

At the same time it is very revealing of the mentality of private schools, entitlement to make decisions in favor of the HOS or admin staff. That’s called moral hazard in economics.

[Anonymous]

Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

Maybe that’s a good explanation. But I find it unusual as university buildings normally just get the Donors name. Don’t want to criticize just because I feel it. Is that probably many parents contributed to the building as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

Maybe that’s a good explanation. But I find it unusual as university buildings normally just get the Donors name. Don’t want to criticize just because I feel it. Is that probably many parents contributed to the building as well.

I'm confused about your criticism. I would rather be part of a community that joins together many smaller donations to honor a beloved school leader, than one that aggrandizes one major donor.

[Anonymous]

I'm not American. When I came here I found it nauseating that wealth was so worshipped in this country, any rando could get his name on a building provided he or she had enough money. It just doesn't work that way in most other countries.

So I applaud an American school who goes against the grain to honor an actual educator. How refreshing. As it should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

Maybe that’s a good explanation. But I find it unusual as university buildings normally just get the Donors name. Don’t want to criticize just because I feel it. Is that probably many parents contributed to the building as well.

I'm confused about your criticism. I would rather be part of a community that joins together many smaller donations to honor a beloved school leader, than one that aggrandizes one major donor.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm not American. When I came here I found it nauseating that wealth was so worshipped in this country, any rando could get his name on a building provided he or she had enough money. It just doesn't work that way in most other countries.

Yes, in America, "class" is based more on a meritocracy, not who your family was going back generations.

As for the building naming, it could be the donors chose to name it after the HOS. At our school, you can even name a bathroom or broom closet if you like, they'll happily take your money. I think the minimum pledge for any naming rights is $100k but I forget exactly. We were going to embarrass our DCs by naming some inconsequential room after them!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not American. When I came here I found it nauseating that wealth was so worshipped in this country, any rando could get his name on a building provided he or she had enough money. It just doesn't work that way in most other countries.

Yes, in America, "class" is based more on a meritocracy, not who your family was going back generations.

As for the building naming, it could be the donors chose to name it after the HOS. At our school, you can even name a bathroom or broom closet if you like, they'll happily take your money. I think the minimum pledge for any naming rights is $100k but I forget exactly. We were going to embarrass our DCs by naming some inconsequential room after them!

Generally a member of those families did something great for their country and that's why they're honored on buildings. Feats of arms, defense of realm sort of stuff. But a lot of buildings are named after scientists, adventurers, entrepreneurs, etc. NOT aristocrats just because they're aristocrats.

And excuse me, are you saying that all rich people in the US earned their wealth, and that somehow they deserve to have their name on a school or university building? You call those rich people your meritocracy? Do you know what they did, a lot of them, to get there?

Maybe you should reread your history.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

Maybe that’s a good explanation. But I find it unusual as university buildings normally just get the Donors name. Don’t want to criticize just because I feel it. Is that probably many parents contributed to the building as well.

I'm confused about your criticism. I would rather be part of a community that joins together many smaller donations to honor a beloved school leader, than one that aggrandizes one major donor.

Except if the school leader is currently working and involved in the project.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

Maybe that’s a good explanation. But I find it unusual as university buildings normally just get the Donors name. Don’t want to criticize just because I feel it. Is that probably many parents contributed to the building as well.

I'm confused about your criticism. I would rather be part of a community that joins together many smaller donations to honor a beloved school leader, than one that aggrandizes one major donor.

Except if the school leader is currently working and involved in the project.

Did you ask someone at the school how the naming decision was made?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

Maybe that’s a good explanation. But I find it unusual as university buildings normally just get the Donors name. Don’t want to criticize just because I feel it. Is that probably many parents contributed to the building as well.

I'm confused about your criticism. I would rather be part of a community that joins together many smaller donations to honor a beloved school leader, than one that aggrandizes one major donor.

Except if the school leader is currently working and involved in the project.

Did you ask someone at the school how the naming decision was made?

Yes. Money came from endowment and the hos was leading the project. My guess is that the board approved the building name. Still. It’s already an honor to be HOS of an elementary school. Not sure you need to name a building after you. As a teacher and school leader, your legacy are the students. I would be happy if that was my main legacy.

[Anonymous]

I would say the decision to name a building after the head of school reflects the profound admiration the community held for the work of that individual. Does everything have to be named after the highest donor? Maybe the highest donations were of equal value so there was no clear donor deserving of honor. Or maybe there were just super decent people that didn’t think their money had to be attached to a plaque. Some people truly give from the heart.

[Anonymous]

Donors often direct their gift to be in honor of someone and that is the name that goes on the building/bench/whatever. It is not uncommon to have something named in honor of a long term HOS. When a school does a capital campaign, the pre-determined naming opportunities are proposed to people likely to make a large donations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not American. When I came here I found it nauseating that wealth was so worshipped in this country, any rando could get his name on a building provided he or she had enough money. It just doesn't work that way in most other countries.

Yes, in America, "class" is based more on a meritocracy, not who your family was going back generations.

As for the building naming, it could be the donors chose to name it after the HOS. At our school, you can even name a bathroom or broom closet if you like, they'll happily take your money. I think the minimum pledge for any naming rights is $100k but I forget exactly. We were going to embarrass our DCs by naming some inconsequential room after them!

Generally a member of those families oppressed the powerless and sucked up to the powerful and that's why they're honored on buildings. Feats of arms, defense of realm sort of stuff. But a lot of buildings are named after scientists, adventurers, entrepreneurs, etc. NOT aristocrats just because they're aristocrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe the major donors of that building gave the money because of the work the HOS did to raise the money and for years of leadership by the HOS, that gave them an appreciation of the school’s mission, hence wanting to put their money to the school’s future, prompting them to lobby for the building to be named after that HOS. I’m not saying it’s normal, but something led to it happening.

Maybe that’s a good explanation. But I find it unusual as university buildings normally just get the Donors name. Don’t want to criticize just because I feel it. Is that probably many parents contributed to the building as well.

I'm confused about your criticism. I would rather be part of a community that joins together many smaller donations to honor a beloved school leader, than one that aggrandizes one major donor.

Except if the school leader is currently working and involved in the project.

Did you ask someone at the school how the naming decision was made?

Yes. Money came from endowment and the hos was leading the project. My guess is that the board approved the building name. Still. It’s already an honor to be HOS of an elementary school. Not sure you need to name a building after you. As a teacher and school leader, your legacy are the students. I would be happy if that was my main legacy.

Money came from the endowment rather than a capital campaign? I find that extraordinarily surprising. Are you sure you didn't misunderstand?