So lets look at Malcolm X. Began as a burglar, womanizer and spent time in the slammer. In the slammer, he became a racist and even hinted (not too subtly) about supporting violence -- "by any means necessary."
Towards the end of his life, he changed his beliefs about society, black (sorry, negro was the term he used) relations.
I assigned his autobiography to my class and we read parts of it in class.
S..t. Now I gotta throw my copy of the book out.
Or do you think PBS should'a shown the documentary about the Oakland Black Panthers? They carried shotguns to follow cops around during the cops' patrol.
So lets look at Malcolm X. Began as a burglar, womanizer and spent time in the slammer. In the slammer, he became a racist and even hinted (not too subtly) about supporting violence -- "by any means necessary."
Towards the end of his life, he changed his beliefs about society, black (sorry, negro was the term he used) relations.
I assigned his autobiography to my class and we read parts of it in class.
S..t. Now I gotta throw my copy of the book out.
Or do you think PBS should'a shown the documentary about the Oakland Black Panthers? They carried shotguns to follow cops around during the cops' patrol.
This goes back to my earlier post -- I'd argue reading a book as part of a class or watching a documentary is a different activity than naming a building, and that this difference matters.
Chief Tuscan (or Tuskin), who is said to have lived in our valley, was reputedly born a Mohican. The late Maplewood historian Beatrice Herman wrote that according to James Ricalton, the village’s famous schoolmaster, Chief Tuscan had migrated from Upper New York State, and married an Indian maiden, joining the Lenni Lenape and setting up household with her in the ravine along what is now Tuscan Road.
By one account, when Chief Tuscan died in 1801, members of his tribe staged an elaborate funeral ritual, and he was buried in the vicinity of his home. Some historians, including Mr. Kraft, believe that the Native Americans were long gone from this area by that time.
Tuscan School was originally named Harvard School. Does anyone know why that change was made? I have heard an alternative explanation that Tuscan School was named for Tuscany, a region of Italy from which early settlers to the area came.
Speaking strictly for myself, -Jefferson should not be forgotten or erased or thrown out. Quite the opposite.
Just as with any historical figure it is useful for understanding and quite honestly more interesting to learn as much about them as possible and not just leave out the nasty bits.
In other words: This sort of thing pictured below, -an exhibit at the Smithsonian featuring a statue of Jefferson, standing in front of a wall containing the names of the more than 600 enslaved people he owned, which greets visitors to the exhibition "Slavery at Jefferson's Monticello: Paradox of Liberty."
As a school student, including or especially students attending a school named "Jefferson" it would be far more educational to learn the complexities of history and individuals than to be taught to just blindly stand in awe of an incomplete and thus false narrative. Such complete learning fosters critical thinking and the ability to think for oneself which should be the bedrock goal of an education.
For a man who was so devoted to learning as was Jefferson, you'd think he would appreciate the full picture, or maybe not so much.
Chief Tuscan (or Tuskin), who is said to have lived in our valley, was reputedly born a Mohican. The late Maplewood historian Beatrice Herman wrote that according to James Ricalton, the village’s famous schoolmaster, Chief Tuscan had migrated from Upper New York State, and married an Indian maiden, joining the Lenni Lenape and setting up household with her in the ravine along what is now Tuscan Road.
By one account, when Chief Tuscan died in 1801, members of his tribe staged an elaborate funeral ritual, and he was buried in the vicinity of his home. Some historians, including Mr. Kraft, believe that the Native Americans were long gone from this area by that time.
Tuscan School was originally named Harvard School. Does anyone know why that change was made? I have heard an alternative explanation that Tuscan School was named for Tuscany, a region of Italy from which early settlers to the area came.
According to my teachers at Tuscan (more than 50 years ago), the name was in homage to Chief Tuscan (a member of the Lenni Lebape). Who knows whether their narrative was true, false or a combination.
Tuscan School was originally named Harvard School. Does anyone know why that change was made? I have heard an alternative explanation that Tuscan School was named for Tuscany, a region of Italy from which early settlers to the area came.
Tuscan School sits between Harvard Ave. and Tuscan Ave.
So however it was named, that may have something to do with it.
Jefferson School is near Jefferson Ave., and probably was named for the Jefferson Village of which that area was a part (the school for that area was called "Jefferson Village School").
I tend to doubt that a deliberate decision was made to name the school "Jefferson School" in order to honor Thomas Jefferson (the way "Seth Boyden" was deliberately named to honor Seth Boyden). It was named for the geographic name "Jefferson", which was in turn named for Thomas Jefferson.
In any event, the whole renaming process could have been started with less fanfare and fuss.
Anyone else feel like this topic isn't high on the list of things this BOE needs to be focusing on? Just asking--feels like there's lots of heavier rocks that need to be moved.
Anyone else feel like this topic isn't high on the list of things this BOE needs to be focusing on? Just asking--feels like there's lots of heavier rocks that need to be moved.
I'll bet they can do this and the other tasks at the same time.
For everyone praising Jefferson as a statesman, don't forget that he stabbed President Adams in the back at every opportunity while he was vice president.
Anyone else feel like this topic isn't high on the list of things this BOE needs to be focusing on? Just asking--feels like there's lots of heavier rocks that need to be moved.
Considering they're giving everyone 10 months to come up with a name for them to vote on next year, I doubt they're really what I would call "focused" on this.
As someone mentioned before,perhaps schools should just have numbers,not names like some city schools. No one is perfect and finding a perfect replacement is impossible. I wonder how many of you in this conversation attended Jefferson School. Probably no one. For me it's also sentimental. I am a lover of history and a former teacher and drummerboy I am not a dude!
Anyone else feel like this topic isn't high on the list of things this BOE needs to be focusing on? Just asking--feels like there's lots of heavier rocks that need to be moved.
I'll bet they can do this and the other tasks at the same time.
Let's hope. The community and school families have the right to change the name if they like, but the BOE needs to know that this shouldn't be any type of distraction from the more difficult work relating to the curriculum, facilities and integration plan.
As someone mentioned before,perhaps schools should just have numbers, not names like some city schools. No one is perfect and finding a perfect replacement is impossible. I wonder how many of you in this conversation attended Jefferson School. Probably no one. For me it's also sentimental. I am a lover of history and a former teacher and drummerboy I am not a dude!
I thought about that. Then I realized that not all numbers are created equal. 13 has such a negative connotation that many high rises skip the 13th floor going directly from 12 to 14. The number 1 carries such a positive connotation that there would be a fight over which school got to be called number 1.
Back in the day when I was president of the Tuscan PTA back in the ‘70s, the name was directly understood to be in honor of the Indian encampment of Chief Tuscan said to have been near the brook. If being woke means erasing now “offensive” nomenclature, and the school name is changed, then Tuscan Road must also be renamed.
“Can of worms” and “slippery slope” springs to mind. History should not be rewritten, but learned from. Many of the singers of the Declaration of Independence were slave owners — the document remains the founding principles of our nation.
Educating our population about American History is important and necessary— warts and all— rewriting it is dumb and will lead to dumber citizens.
As someone mentioned before,perhaps schools should just have numbers, not names like some city schools. No one is perfect and finding a perfect replacement is impossible. I wonder how many of you in this conversation attended Jefferson School. Probably no one. For me it's also sentimental. I am a lover of history and a former teacher and drummerboy I am not a dude!
I thought about that. Then I realized that not all numbers are created equal. 13 has such a negative connotation that many high rises skip the 13th floor going directly from 12 to 14. The number 1 carries such a positive connotation that there would be a fight over which school got to be called number 1.
we could rename Jefferson as Elementary School 3.14159
Back in the day when I was president of the Tuscan PTA back in the ‘70s, the name was directly understood to be in honor of the Indian encampment of Chief Tuscan said to have been near the brook. If being woke means erasing now “offensive” nomenclature, and the school name is changed, then Tuscan Road must also be renamed.
“Can of worms” and “slippery slope” springs to mind. History should not be rewritten, but learned from. Many of the singers of the Declaration of Independence were slave owners — the document remains the founding principles of our nation.
Educating our population about American History is important and necessary— warts and all— rewriting it is dumb and will lead to dumber citizens.
Tuscan Elementary was named after the milk company, everyone knows that.
You crack me up sometimes!
It’s funny because I remember my house had an insulated milk box attached to the wall next to my back door. The name on the box was Tuscan. And they used to deliver milk. They were on union avenue in union by the parkway. Wasn’t Tuscan school originally that cottage on Tuscan rd close to the bridge over the brook to get into the back the school?
I was wondering when this topic would come up when the General Lee statues started falling in the south.
Why not rename Jefferson School Roosevelt School and don't specify which one (not that Teddy owned slaves). However, there is a tie to the town through a Roosevelt cousin, I believe -- Roosevelt Rd. is named for that relation, who at one time had an estate off Ridgewood Rd.
I was wondering when this topic would come up when the General Lee statues started falling in the south.
Why not rename Jefferson School (my elementary school, as well, drummerboy), Roosevelt School and don't specify which one (not that Teddy owned slaves). However, there is a tie to the town through a Roosevelt cousin, I believe -- Roosevelt Rd. is named for that relation, who at one time had an estate off Ridgewood Rd.
Teddy spent summers on the farm that was where Roosevelt Rd is now located.
So lets look at Malcolm X. Began as a burglar, womanizer and spent time in the slammer. In the slammer, he became a racist and even hinted (not too subtly) about supporting violence -- "by any means necessary."
Towards the end of his life, he changed his beliefs about society, black (sorry, negro was the term he used) relations.
I assigned his autobiography to my class and we read parts of it in class.
S..t. Now I gotta throw my copy of the book out.
Or do you think PBS should'a shown the documentary about the Oakland Black Panthers? They carried shotguns to follow cops around during the cops' patrol.