Washington-Loving

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are likely at least three dynamics going on:

1. Among students, white jocks (especially boys, and with the support of some parents/teachers) will rally behind the existing name; in that environment, minority students often feel pressure to go along with those kids and say they don't care about the name or that alternatives are "stupid."

2. Those advising APS will be drawn largely from self-professed "progressive" ranks and will try to outdo one another in coming up with names that repudiate Lee and "Confederate values."

3. The School Board members have already decided on the new name and will just sit back until they have to make a decision.

You really think a Black W-L football player is going to be happy to go out on the field as the "Washington-Loving Generals"? It sounds like (in the most positive interpretation) like Generals who really, really liked Washington. Of course the name is going to be mocked by the kids at Yorktown and Wakefield.

I think it's kind of insulting to minority students to suggest that they would only say they dislike the name out of pressure from other kids. Are they not allowed to have an opinion that "Washington-Loving" sounds like a description of people who love Washington (do they love the person or the city?). Of course, the W-L students will be well educated into the history of the Loving case and can be proud of supporting that. They'll need to be since every time they tell their school name to someone outside the community, it will be followed up with, "yeah, I know it sounds weird, it doesn't mean our school loves Washington. The Lovings were..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are likely at least three dynamics going on:

1. Among students, white jocks (especially boys, and with the support of some parents/teachers) will rally behind the existing name; in that environment, minority students often feel pressure to go along with those kids and say they don't care about the name or that alternatives are "stupid."

2. Those advising APS will be drawn largely from self-professed "progressive" ranks and will try to outdo one another in coming up with names that repudiate Lee and "Confederate values."

3. The School Board members have already decided on the new name and will just sit back until they have to make a decision.

You really think a Black W-L football player is going to be happy to go out on the field as the "Washington-Loving Generals"? It sounds like (in the most positive interpretation) like Generals who really, really liked Washington. Of course the name is going to be mocked by the kids at Yorktown and Wakefield.

I think it's kind of insulting to minority students to suggest that they would only say they dislike the name out of pressure from other kids. Are they not allowed to have an opinion that "Washington-Loving" sounds like a description of people who love Washington (do they love the person or the city?). Of course, the W-L students will be well educated into the history of the Loving case and can be proud of supporting that. They'll need to be since every time they tell their school name to someone outside the community, it will be followed up with, "yeah, I know it sounds weird, it doesn't mean our school loves Washington. The Lovings were..."

You don't know many teenagers, do you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are likely at least three dynamics going on:

1. Among students, white jocks (especially boys, and with the support of some parents/teachers) will rally behind the existing name; in that environment, minority students often feel pressure to go along with those kids and say they don't care about the name or that alternatives are "stupid."

2. Those advising APS will be drawn largely from self-professed "progressive" ranks and will try to outdo one another in coming up with names that repudiate Lee and "Confederate values."

3. The School Board members have already decided on the new name and will just sit back until they have to make a decision.

You really think a Black W-L football player is going to be happy to go out on the field as the "Washington-Loving Generals"? It sounds like (in the most positive interpretation) like Generals who really, really liked Washington. Of course the name is going to be mocked by the kids at Yorktown and Wakefield.

I think it's kind of insulting to minority students to suggest that they would only say they dislike the name out of pressure from other kids. Are they not allowed to have an opinion that "Washington-Loving" sounds like a description of people who love Washington (do they love the person or the city?). Of course, the W-L students will be well educated into the history of the Loving case and can be proud of supporting that. They'll need to be since every time they tell their school name to someone outside the community, it will be followed up with, "yeah, I know it sounds weird, it doesn't mean our school loves Washington. The Lovings were..."

I wasn't speaking to "Washington-Loving" specifically, but to the dynamics that lead to some minority students defending or not objecting to Confederate school names.

I do know some minority teenagers who've been in those situations, and what you hear when you speak to them privately may be different than what they'll say if they're put on the spot and asked to express a view in front of a bunch of white classmates, a substantial number of whom are all about "preserving tradition."

[Anonymous]

I haven’t followed this debate closely. In my opinion “Loving” is a really unfortunate name to give a high school. They will become the butt of no end of jokes among fellow high schoolers.

More importantly, though, Mildred Loving was only a public figure against her will. She never even read the Court’s decision or talked about her past with close family members. I think it is wrong to take the name of an intensely private person and make it more public than ever, in a way that once again would have been against her will.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t followed this debate closely. In my opinion “Loving” is a really unfortunate name to give a high school. They will become the butt of no end of jokes among fellow high schoolers.

More importantly, though, Mildred Loving was only a public figure against her will. She never even read the Court’s decision or talked about her past with close family members. I think it is wrong to take the name of an intensely private person and make it more public than ever, in a way that once again would have been against her will.

+1 Seems like a representative of the committee should at least talk to the family before bestowing what they might not want as an honor.

[Anonymous]

Arlington has reached peak clownishnrss. Yes, get rid of the Lee. But not with this. Cringe inducing.

[Anonymous]

Wiser heads ... if there are any left in this strange county ... please prevail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t followed this debate closely. In my opinion “Loving” is a really unfortunate name to give a high school. They will become the butt of no end of jokes among fellow high schoolers.

More importantly, though, Mildred Loving was only a public figure against her will. She never even read the Court’s decision or talked about her past with close family members. I think it is wrong to take the name of an intensely private person and make it more public than ever, in a way that once again would have been against her will.

+1 Seems like a representative of the committee should at least talk to the family before bestowing what they might not want as an honor.

+2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are likely at least three dynamics going on:

1. Among students, white jocks (especially boys, and with the support of some parents/teachers) will rally behind the existing name; in that environment, minority students often feel pressure to go along with those kids and say they don't care about the name or that alternatives are "stupid."

2. Those advising APS will be drawn largely from self-professed "progressive" ranks and will try to outdo one another in coming up with names that repudiate Lee and "Confederate values."

3. The School Board members have already decided on the new name and will just sit back until they have to make a decision.

I expect the Board will be happy to approve this name to make themselves look more progressive while they continue to support school segregation in every boundary decision.

+ 8,000,000

[Anonymous]

How about Wisdom-Liberty High? Drop people.

[Anonymous]

This article indicates that Washington-Loving is the preferred choice of the People Who Matter:

https://www.arlnow.com/2018/12/03/washington-loving-high-school-proposed-as-new-name-for-washington-lee/?fbclid=IwAR0pNm3etqMaudm5nFtjkxrzo9sRIwosp67QXLVOKTGgYv4yikmWF2GWQ_8

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about Wisdom-Liberty High? Drop people.

I like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they renamed it George Washington High some old alum would be upset because GW High in Alexandria used to be W-L's archrival.

Washington-Lincoln is the best choice. More stuff in this state should be named after prominent Union leaders.

There was a substantial Union presence in Northern Virginia, and Lincoln ventured into NoVa for a review of Union troops in 1861. Julia Ward Howe was inspired to compose the Battle Hymn of the Republic as a result of another review of Union troops the same month at Upton's Hill in Arlington:

http://dclawyeronthecivilwar.blogspot.com/2010/11/grand-review-at-baileys-crossroads.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upton%27s_Hill

Washington-Lincoln does indeed seem a much better choice than Washington-Loving, which makes about as much sense as Adams-Roe or Jefferson-Miranda.

Those dudes were White Supremacists. They want a progressive name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t followed this debate closely. In my opinion “Loving” is a really unfortunate name to give a high school. They will become the butt of no end of jokes among fellow high schoolers.

More importantly, though, Mildred Loving was only a public figure against her will. She never even read the Court’s decision or talked about her past with close family members. I think it is wrong to take the name of an intensely private person and make it more public than ever, in a way that once again would have been against her will.

+1 Seems like a representative of the committee should at least talk to the family before bestowing what they might not want as an honor.

1. They are reaching out to the family.

2. The school board has nothing to do with the origination of the name. Afaik, it came from the student representatives on the committee and quickly gained support from Dr. Robertson (W-L principal) which basically guaranteed it shooting up to #1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I haven’t followed this debate closely. In my opinion “Loving” is a really unfortunate name to give a high school. They will become the butt of no end of jokes among fellow high schoolers.

More importantly, though, Mildred Loving was only a public figure against her will. She never even read the Court’s decision or talked about her past with close family members. I think it is wrong to take the name of an intensely private person and make it more public than ever, in a way that once again would have been against her will.

+1 Seems like a representative of the committee should at least talk to the family before bestowing what they might not want as an honor.

1. They are reaching out to the family.

2. The school board has nothing to do with the origination of the name. Afaik, it came from the student representatives on the committee and quickly gained support from Dr. Robertson (W-L principal) which basically guaranteed it shooting up to #1.

It doesn’t matter who it came from or who supported it on the committee. It is a ridiculous name for a school in Arlington. But my kids will go to Yorktown and I’m sure have lots of fun with the name.