Do you think that a high school student should know who there is school is named after?

[Anonymous]

I'm still trying to figure out *who* BCC is named in honor of. OP, who???

[Anonymous]

I think they should, although in some parts of the world schools are named after despots...

But in this case, I think it is about being engaged in the world, and the name of the school you go to everyday is pretty immediate. The school should include it somehow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm still trying to figure out *who* BCC is named in honor of. OP, who???

The great comedian Chevy Chase? JK

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm still trying to figure out *who* BCC is named in honor of. OP, who???

The great comedian Chevy Chase? JK

Little known fact (the students of BCC should know this!): Chevy Chase's real first name is Bethesda. Hence, Bethesda "Chevy" Chase HS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP again. Never did I say that I was a high school teacher.

I might be a piano teacher. Maybe I am a hitting coach or perhaps I teach life skills. Then again its possible that I teach basket weaving, counsel on drug addiction, or teach kids to drive.

I learned something. When asking a question that is unpopular or that exposes the ignorance of the people who populate this site they will gang up on you and try to make you look like a fool.

OP, it's also "fewer than 1% of students" not "less than"

You are mean. Please do not come near me.

[Anonymous]

I would have been proud to go to a High School named after "The Big Train" (Walter Johnson).

Thomas Sprigg Wootton, not so much. But I agree with the OP, if some kid sees that name every school day, the barest glimmer of curiosity should flicker at least once... Don't the school entrances have little plaques or photos on the wall in dedication ?

"I make it a habit to ask each student who their school is named after and what the person did in life.

There is one school where less than 1% were able to tell me. "

I hope you tell the kids that don't know - just for fun. It could be 15 seconds of "huh - I didn't know that". I bet some of them might even ask their clueless friends later, to see if they knew...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have been proud to go to a High School named after "The Big Train" (Walter Johnson).

Thomas Sprigg Wootton, not so much. But I agree with the OP, if some kid sees that name every school day, the barest glimmer of curiosity should flicker at least once... Don't the school entrances have little plaques or photos on the wall in dedication ?

"I make it a habit to ask each student who their school is named after and what the person did in life.

There is one school where less than 1% were able to tell me. "

I hope you tell the kids that don't know - just for fun. It could be 15 seconds of "huh - I didn't know that". I bet some of them might even ask their clueless friends later, to see if they knew...

Isn't more a failure of the principal and staff to educate the students about what the person did in life? At Walter Johnson a series of principals have made sure that the kids know who he was. The lunch has a baseball theme and so do the yearbook and newspaper. There is a statute outside of the school that was donated when they tore down the old stadium in DC where he played.

At Richard Montgomery there is a gigantic mural in the lobby that tells a story. You can't help knowing what RM did in life by looking at that mural.

Whitman and Churchill? All the kids know and can tell you what he did.

Wootton? Almost no one knows including the teachers. I say its a failure of leadership at that school. How long would it take to include a block of instruction to teach the kids? There is nothing in the school. No plaques, no memorials, and no photos. I had a football player once and I asked him who Thomas Wootton was. He started in with a long explanation and I asked him where he had learned it. He shrugged and said, "used Google. Imagine that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would have been proud to go to a High School named after "The Big Train" (Walter Johnson).

Thomas Sprigg Wootton, not so much. But I agree with the OP, if some kid sees that name every school day, the barest glimmer of curiosity should flicker at least once... Don't the school entrances have little plaques or photos on the wall in dedication ?

"I make it a habit to ask each student who their school is named after and what the person did in life.

There is one school where less than 1% were able to tell me. "

I hope you tell the kids that don't know - just for fun. It could be 15 seconds of "huh - I didn't know that". I bet some of them might even ask their clueless friends later, to see if they knew...

Isn't more a failure of the principal and staff to educate the students about what the person did in life? At Walter Johnson a series of principals have made sure that the kids know who he was. The lunch has a baseball theme and so do the yearbook and newspaper. There is a statute outside of the school that was donated when they tore down the old stadium in DC where he played.

At Richard Montgomery there is a gigantic mural in the lobby that tells a story. You can't help knowing what RM did in life by looking at that mural.

Whitman and Churchill? All the kids know and can tell you what he did.

Wootton? Almost no one knows including the teachers. I say its a failure of leadership at that school. How long would it take to include a block of instruction to teach the kids? There is nothing in the school. No plaques, no memorials, and no photos. I had a football player once and I asked him who Thomas Wootton was. He started in with a long explanation and I asked him where he had learned it. He shrugged and said, "used Google. Imagine that.

I can tell you from personal experience that at Wootton they are more interested in test scores than such foolishness.

[Anonymous]

PP, so on in other words you are saying they are not curious.

[Anonymous]

No one has mentioned Montgomery Blair.

I noticed the grammatical errors and typos but does anyone in this day and age think that internet writing, say on a chat forum or facebook, equates to academic prose? OP asked a perfectly legitimate and interesting question.

Guy walk into a school and asks a teacher, Where's the library at?

Teacher says, Don't you know you're not supposed to end a sentence or question with a preposition?

Guy responds: OK, Where's the library at, asshole?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some schools are named for people with little significance. My middle school was named for a long serving school board member. I believe in geographic naming.

And I believe in numbering, like they do in New York City. Public School Number 123. Done.

I can see - somewhat - why a school might be named after a philanthropist, or a general, or a political figure. But a baseball player?

[Anonymous]

PP, Walter Johnson played his entire career at the Senators. He retired to Germantown. It isn't like he had never set foot in the area.

Clemente Middle School is ALSO named after an MLB player. But he died in a plane crash, so does that make it okay?

Now, the only way that naming rights are done is to give tons of money and buy them during fundraising campaigns. I'm fine with the old approach.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone smarter than I am please tell me who these people are: Walter Johnson, Thomas Wootton, Richard Montgomery, TC Williams, Charles E. Smith, St Stephen & St Agnes, and Benjamin Banneker. I know I could Google it, but since many people here are saying it's so easy and obvious to know who a school is named after, I'm hoping you'll answer. TIA for making me more informed.

I hope that this is a joke. Montgomery County was named after Richard Montgomery. He was a Revolutionary War general. Walter Johnson was the greatest right handed baseball pitcher of all-time. He lived right down the street from the site of the present school and later was on the county council. He pitched for the Washington Senators.

Thomas Wootton is the father of Montgomery County. If it weren't for him we would be living in Frederick County.

Charles E. Smith was a famous philanthropist who started the school and as a result the school is named after him.


I am the OP. The answer to my original question is that I have never encountered a Wootton student who knew who their school is named after. Churchill, Whitman, Walter Johnson, and Richard Montgomery students always know and can tell you facts that are not well known.

Wootton was totally jipped! I vote we petition for a name change to Wotton county!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone smarter than I am please tell me who these people are: Walter Johnson, Thomas Wootton, Richard Montgomery, TC Williams, Charles E. Smith, St Stephen & St Agnes, and Benjamin Banneker. I know I could Google it, but since many people here are saying it's so easy and obvious to know who a school is named after, I'm hoping you'll answer. TIA for making me more informed.

I hope that this is a joke. Montgomery County was named after Richard Montgomery. He was a Revolutionary War general. Walter Johnson was the greatest right handed baseball pitcher of all-time. He lived right down the street from the site of the present school and later was on the county council. He pitched for the Washington Senators.

Thomas Wootton is the father of Montgomery County. If it weren't for him we would be living in Frederick County.

Charles E. Smith was a famous philanthropist who started the school and as a result the school is named after him.


I am the OP. The answer to my original question is that I have never encountered a Wootton student who knew who their school is named after. Churchill, Whitman, Walter Johnson, and Richard Montgomery students always know and can tell you facts that are not well known.

Wootton was totally jipped! I vote we petition for a name change to Wotton county!

That is enough reason for the principal and/or teachers at the school to educate the kids about who T. Wootton was. Had Richard Montgomery not been very popular at the time for his bravery in battle we could be living in Wootton County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some schools are named for people with little significance. My middle school was named for a long serving school board member. I believe in geographic naming.

And I believe in numbering, like they do in New York City. Public School Number 123. Done.

I can see - somewhat - why a school might be named after a philanthropist, or a general, or a political figure. But a baseball player?

"But a baseball player"? Your typical nose in the air Montgomery County parent. Walter Johnson was elected to the county council after his retirement from baseball. He was instrumental in the effort to improve roads and adding qualified teachers. The house that he lived in when he played for the Senators still stands at Old Georgetown Road and Johnson Avenue. He later bought a farm in Germantown and lived there until his death. The farmhouse is where Seneca Valley High sits today One of his sons died just a few months ago at the age of 93.