New Name for JEB Stuart HS - 9/16 Community Vote
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Anonymous
You're correct. I'm in APS and pushing for Washington-Lee HS to change its name. Hoping we're next. |
Anonymous
No, it's not that the other names are "divisive". It's that they aren't utilitarian.... BJ-HS (with the connotation) as well as "Johns" HS (similar connotation). We already have a "Marshall" HS -- why on earth would a district have 2 HSs with the same name? Just isn't functional. I'd actually prefer that the George Marshall HS be re-named for Thurgood, but we don't need to go there. Marshall is taken. And Mendez HS -- in theory would be fine, and in other parts of the country where there are more middle and upper middle class Latinos -- would be perfectly lovely. But, in this area and in that particular neighborhood, any Latino name will have the connotation of lower income/undocumented immigrant HS. That is not going to have a positive effect on the school or the housing values. Marketing and branding isn't everything... but it IS something. And in this situation, I'm afraid that Mendez is too limiting. That might not be the case if it was a more well-known Latino person (like Soto-Mayor or something that is nationally recognized and has an image of high achieving/highly integrated). But, we have to deal with reality and the reality is that Mendez has a certain baggage that a location-based-neutral name does not. Why stamp that HS with a name that says "this is the hispanic HS" when it ALREADY is a lower performing school with 33% ESOL, 67% FARMS and 55% Latino? Give the school a fighting chance by naming it something that plays well to all comers. |
Anonymous
You had me until you got to Mendez. Wow! So do people assume that a school named JEB Stuart is filled with confederate flag waiving, pick up driving rednecks? Mr. Mendez's accomplishments were significant in and of themselves, some would say more so than Soto-Mayor's given his willingness to literally put his life on the line fighting for freedom for his fellow human beings. Sorry his military service isn't fancy enough for you. |
Anonymous
Wow! So, that is what this is about. FWIW, it has been a looong time since FCPS named a high school after a person. What is the logical thing to do? Call it Stuart. Period. The kids never paid attention to that anyway, until they were encouraged to do so. Saves money to taxpayers and the families. Hopefully, prevents changing the names of other schools. And, if we go forward to change the names of the other schools, this will set a precedent that will save lots more money. If we go changing every school name the cost will be in the millions and millions. And, in the future, SB, please choose geographical names that are somewhat generic. And, if you go with Peace Valley, how about the Peace Valley Hippies? The cheer can be "Peace out!" |
Anonymous
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Peace valley Warriors?
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Anonymous
That doesn't prevent him from being obnoxious. Go read the letter he wrote to UVA. |
Anonymous
I prefer Peace Valley Hippies to Stuart. |
Anonymous
Apparently that is what it's about. One of the posters advocating for Stuart specifically asked, if the name had to be changed, why does it have to be named after a black person. That indicates that this is about race for the keepers. If your only issue is with the cost, any name that's chosen should be equally as unappealing. |
Anonymous
No. That indicates one person' opinion. Just as the "changers" seem to only want a Civil Right's person's name. In fact, from the very beginning of this process--documented in FOIA--the changers did not just want a 'change". They desired a change to Thurgood Marshall. Does that mean that is what all the changers want? The ridiculousness of having a second Marshall High never occurred to them. In fact, according to FOIA, it did not occur to Evans, either. And, my issue is cost. That is why I am in favor of the generic "Stuart". It saves the taxpayers lots of money and sets a precedent for future name changes--which could cost millions and millions. This will keep those costs to a minimum. If Westfield can be named after an office park, and South County can be named as it is, it seems to me that we can just call it Stuart. That way, when the changers go after Robert E. Lee, we can just call it Lee, etc. In recent years, FCPS has named some new schools after minorities. That is fine. Schools need to have names. But, spending money to change names is not good financial sense. |
Anonymous
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Just read the agenda for the work session.
Funny, none of the expenses included the signs around the school or the administrative costs of changing--someone is going to have to do all the notifications, etc, order new stationary, rubber stamps, etc. Labor to change the name on everything administrative. That seems to me to be a pretty large expense. I don't see it included anywhere. With Stuart--all that would have to be done is remove the JEB from the signs. Lots of things at Stuart already just say "Stuart". Looks to me like it was manipulated to make it look more expensive. |
Anonymous
+1000. PP is disgusting. |
Anonymous
^ Big stinking pile of horse manure that demands that the School Board choose the name of an individual other than Stuart: * If two Marshall HSs are untenable, how has FCPS ever managed with Greenbriar West ES and a Greenbriar East ES * If a second Marshall doesn't work for a high school, call it "Justice HS" * There are numerous public schools named after Barbara Jordan, so we could handle any teen snickering associated with "Barbara Rose Johns" as well * The name "Mendez" should have no "baggage" whatsover, and only inspire, when it honors a local WW II hero and educator * All much better than "JEB Stuart" or "Stuart," which conjure up images of Confederates, white supremacists, and heel-dragging resistance to integration and social progress |
Anonymous
So, you are judge and jury. If two Marshall HSs are untenable, how has FCPS ever managed with Greenbriar West ES and a Greenbriar East ES For one thing, they are both in the Greenbriar neighborhood. And, it does cause confusion and I do not know why they named it that way, but, believe me, there is a huge difference between a high school and an elementary school. You really cannot see that? Elementary schools don't have sports, or other competitive activities. And, what are you going to do, have the current Marshall HIgh buy new uniforms, etc, to be sure everyone knows the difference. That would be an additional expense. But, clearly, the taxpayer's money does not concern you at all. * If a second Marshall doesn't work for a high school, call it "Justice HS" You get to decide? More voted for Stuart than Marshall, Justice, whatever, in any case. * There are numerous public schools named after Barbara Jordan, so we could handle any teen snickering associated with "Barbara Rose Johns" as well I suspect you are not a high school student. I find only one Barbara Jordon High School--it is in Texas and most refer to it as Jordon. I don't think Johns High School sounds particularly good, and I doubt the kids will, either. That has a far different connotation than Jordon--again, you need to think of unintended consequences. * The name "Mendez" should have no "baggage" whatsover, and only inspire, when it honors a local WW II hero and educator And, it was pretty far down the list in votes. * All much better than "JEB Stuart" or "Stuart," which conjure up images of Confederates, white supremacists, and heel-dragging resistance to integration and social progress " No. You are lumping those together. "Stuart" would be just fine. Most of the kids knew nothing and cared nothing about Jeb Stuart, and they will not be connecting him with the school. That is you. Since you did not mention "Peace Valley", I assume you have a different agenda. Stuart will cause less confusion and save lots more money. And, again, it will save money in the future and set a precedent when you go after Robert E. Lee. |
Anonymous
" No. You are lumping those together. "Stuart" would be just fine. Most of the kids knew nothing and cared nothing about Jeb Stuart, and they will not be connecting him with the school. That is you. Since you did not mention "Peace Valley", I assume you have a different agenda. Stuart will cause less confusion and save lots more money. And, again, it will save money in the future and set a precedent when you go after Robert E. Lee. I won't play your rope-a-dope, as your arguments are wildly inconsistent. Stuart is an unacceptable name, and the Superintendent's decision to forward five names to the School Board indicates that he fully appreciates that most community voters last weekend want a name other than Stuart. I'd be less worried about Johns being the name of a school than your continuing to act like a Dick. |
Anonymous
And, you just made my argument on Johns. |