New Name for JEB Stuart HS - 9/16 Community Vote

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they really going to name it Justice? Will it be just Justice or Justice Marshall? If I were in Marshall High district, I would be ticked. Are they going to be called George High now?

If they name it Justice Thurgood Marshall HS, the current one will be called Marshall (no change), and the other will be called Justice for short. No need for confusion. Don't see why they'd start calling it George High.

If the name of the new school is Justice Marshall or Justice Thurgood Marshall, there WILL be confusion.[b] If the official name is "Justice" on paper and on signs, then maybe that's okay. But, if the signs say "Justice Marshall", it will be confusing and misleading. Bad idea.

I cannot believe they are going with this. Totally lacking in common sense.

Agreed.

While Thurgood Marshall absolutely should be honored whenever possible, giving his name to a second high school in the same school system where there's already a long-established "Marshall" HS isn't a good idea at all. The idea of calling the soon-to-be-former Stuart HS "Justice HS" instead is well-meant, but the school would end up being called "Marshall" by default by many people. That just sounds more natural to say than "Justice HS."

It's going to end up creating confusion when high schoolers have to do the million-and-one sign-ups they all do for testing, applications, many other things. I can picture many a kid and parent looking up the official code number for their HS -- yeah, they have to do that a lot in junior and senior years, to fill in forms online -- and clicking on "Marshall" without looking closely, and ending up with all their information being listed under "George C. Marshall" instead of "Justice Thurgood Marshall." Parents of juniors and seniors know what I'm talking about. It's just another way that confusion can creep in, and in ways that will actually create issues for students.

Maybe it would all settle in a few years and everyone would know Justice HS but it sounds like a recipe for confusion.

As for that earlier PP with the sarcastic idea that the Marshall in Falls Church would end up being called George HS -- Hey, don't give anyone any ideas they might take seriously....That would make people confuse it with George Mason HS down the road from the existing Marshall HS.

It's been George C. Marshall, referred to as Marshall, since 1962 and actually has a museum inside it about Marshall's life and work.

It would make sense to honor Mendez by naming the school for him -- according to the Post, he had kids who actually attended Stuart! He was an educator as well as a decorated war veteran, and with Stuart having a 54 percent Hispanic student body (Post article), naming the school for a Hispanic educator and veteran with a clear tie to the school seems logical and thoughtful.

I understand your argument about not naming it Justice Marshall, but Mendez got less votes than four other options, including Peace Valley HS. I don't think they should completely ignore community input. Peace Valley High is a good compromise. I know Mendez's family is making a huge push for this, but I don't think the votes indicated wide community support, and Peace Valley might be the compromise the community needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, it needs to be clear. From listening to the work session, Keys-Gamarra made it clear that it would be named for Justice Thurgood Marshall.

Also interesting, in the FOIA'd docs about changing the name, from the beginning this is what the "changers" wished--that it be named for Thurgood Marshall. They did not just want to get rid of the JEB Stuart name--they had a name in mind long before the community was advised that a name change was in the works. What was interesting was that neither of the SB members involved pointed out that there was already a "Marshall" high school. (At least, not at first.)

I graduated from a high school in another state that was named after a local superintendent. It included his initials in the name--say G.C. Marshall. NO one ever used the initials. It was always just the last name.

My point of view is that this whole thing is a mess.

Had I been on the SB, I would have just suggested--long ago--that they drop the JEB. They could have just passed some kind of resolution that they would call it Stuart High School. NO one would have cared. They could have recommended that as new uniforms, equipment, etc. was purchased, that the JEB be dropped. Over a few years, it would have been complete with NO additional cost.

Instead, they created an issue that has caused division in the school and community. They started a process that was divisive from the beginning--much of it because of the way it was presented and the attacks they made on people who named the school or those who preferred to keep the school name.
They set up a process, and, at almost every step, they moved the goal posts when they did not get the results they preferred. When the school community made it clear in surveys that they wanted to keep the name, the SB changed the steps. They put people from outside the community on the committee and there was no consensus. Because, the SB had already decided that there would be a change, the committee was a joke.
Then, the SB suggested that in the spirit of compromise, "Stuart" be considered. When "Stuart" got the most votes, the changers said--"that doesn't count". And, now, SB members who voted that "Stuart" be considered, have indicated that they will not support it.

This was a sham. Anyone who says otherwise is wrong. Just look at the documentation.

"Anyone who says otherwise is wrong." LOL - classic Keeper nonsense. These people have been spinning so long they've stopped considering any POV or interpretation of facts that doesn't suit their narrative.

[Anonymous]

"Anyone who says otherwise is wrong." LOL - classic Keeper nonsense. These people have been spinning so long they've stopped considering any POV or interpretation of facts that doesn't suit their narrative.

Facts are facts. Not nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"Anyone who says otherwise is wrong." LOL - classic Keeper nonsense. These people have been spinning so long they've stopped considering any POV or interpretation of facts that doesn't suit their narrative.

Facts are facts. Not nonsense.

Facts are facts. Your characterizations of them are nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

"Anyone who says otherwise is wrong." LOL - classic Keeper nonsense. These people have been spinning so long they've stopped considering any POV or interpretation of facts that doesn't suit their narrative.

Facts are facts. Not nonsense.

Facts are facts. Your characterizations of them are nonsense.

Fact 1:

Also interesting, in the FOIA'd docs about changing the name, from the beginning this is what the "changers" wished--that it be named for Thurgood Marshall. They did not just want to get rid of the JEB Stuart name--they had a name in mind long before the community was advised that a name change was in the works. What was interesting was that neither of the SB members involved pointed out that there was already a "Marshall" high school. (At least, not at first.)

Nonsense? Don't think so. There is documentation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change.
It would be best to go with a geographic name.

There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change. It would be best to go with an inspirational name, such as one of the three in the OP.

Those options are obviously deliberately divisive PC "payback" names.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change.
It would be best to go with a geographic name.

There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change. It would be best to go with an inspirational name, such as one of the three in the OP.

Those options are obviously deliberately divisive PC "payback" names.

How is choosing the name of a Supreme Court Justice who lived in our community for decades a divisive PC "payback" name. He was an accomplished member of our community, he's an obvious choice. It's only divisive and "payback" to those who are only looking at his color as opposed to his accomplishments and his strong nexus to our community.

[Anonymous]

When was the last time a high school was named after a person in FCPS? Robinson? Marshall?

All the high schools that have been named since I have lived here have been named for the area: Westfield, South County, etc.

The recent namings of elementary schools have included minorities: Coates, Powell.

Seems to me that generic Stuart is logical--but, if not chosen, then geography is the way to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change.
It would be best to go with a geographic name.

There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change. It would be best to go with an inspirational name, such as one of the three in the OP.

Those options are obviously deliberately divisive PC "payback" names.

How is choosing the name of a Supreme Court Justice who lived in our community for decades a divisive PC "payback" name. He was an accomplished member of our community, he's an obvious choice. It's only divisive and "payback" to those who are only looking at his color as opposed to his accomplishments and his strong nexus to our community.

There is already a Marshall High School. Enough said.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change.
It would be best to go with a geographic name.

There were lots of hard feelings in the community over this name change. It would be best to go with an inspirational name, such as one of the three in the OP.

Those options are obviously deliberately divisive PC "payback" names.

How is choosing the name of a Supreme Court Justice who lived in our community for decades a divisive PC "payback" name. He was an accomplished member of our community, he's an obvious choice. It's only divisive and "payback" to those who are only looking at his color as opposed to his accomplishments and his strong nexus to our community.

There is already a Marshall High School. Enough said.

Those are two different arguments. One is that it's confusing and one is that it's divisive PC payback. I understand the first, explain why picking an accomplished member of our community is divisive PC payback. It's not just a random black dude who accomplished nothing and has no nexus to our community. He is extremely accomplished with a strong nexus, why is it PC payback to suggest his name?

[Anonymous]

Those are two different arguments. One is that it's confusing and one is that it's divisive PC payback. I understand the first, explain why picking an accomplished member of our community is divisive PC payback. It's not just a random black dude who accomplished nothing and has no nexus to our community. He is extremely accomplished with a strong nexus, why is it PC payback to suggest his name?

Why the insistence on naming it after Marshall when there is another Marshall?

Have you followed this? Have you listened to the comments from the speakers at SB meetings? Why, when the community voted another name first?

This is to "redeem" the offense of having named the school after Stuart many years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Those are two different arguments. One is that it's confusing and one is that it's divisive PC payback. I understand the first, explain why picking an accomplished member of our community is divisive PC payback. It's not just a random black dude who accomplished nothing and has no nexus to our community. He is extremely accomplished with a strong nexus, why is it PC payback to suggest his name?

Why the insistence on naming it after Marshall when there is another Marshall?

Have you followed this? Have you listened to the comments from the speakers at SB meetings? Why, when the community voted another name first?

This is to "redeem" the offense of having named the school after Stuart many years ago.

There are two TJs in the area, two George Masons (admittedly these are in different districts and are not the same level of school). Having a Marshall and a Justice Marshall is lower on the confusing scale than those, imo.

[Anonymous]

There are two TJs in the area, two George Masons (admittedly these are in different districts and are not the same level of school). Having a Marshall and a Justice Marshall is lower on the confusing scale than those, imo.

Tell that to the Marshall High community. You gave the reason yourself--different districts and different levels---BIG difference.
You are equating an elementary school and a middle school in other districts with naming two high schools in the same district?

You must be one of those who decided long ago that this would be the name. Why are you so insistent on it? It just defies common sense. Please explain why.

1. There is already a Marshall High.
2. Justice Thurgood Marshall/Thurgood/Justice did not get the most votes.

I really would like to understand why this is so important to you. It makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

There are two TJs in the area, two George Masons (admittedly these are in different districts and are not the same level of school). Having a Marshall and a Justice Marshall is lower on the confusing scale than those, imo.

Tell that to the Marshall High community. You gave the reason yourself--different districts and different levels---BIG difference.
You are equating an elementary school and a middle school in other districts with naming two high schools in the same district?

You must be one of those who decided long ago that this would be the name. Why are you so insistent on it? It just defies common sense. Please explain why.

1. There is already a Marshall High.
2. Justice Thurgood Marshall/Thurgood/Justice did not get the most votes.

I really would like to understand why this is so important to you. It makes no sense.

I don't think the name is a problem. I'm not insistent on it, but I don't see anything wrong with it, either. That's all.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the name is a problem. I'm not insistent on it, but I don't see anything wrong with it, either. That's all.

When we have to give Marshall money to purchase new uniforms that say George C. Marshall, signs, etc., you don't see that as a problem.

Look up Marshall High on the FCPS website. It's listed as Marshall--not George C. Marshall.