Renaming of Governor Thomas Johnson High and Middle (schools, live)

[Chief Sipwiaac]

https://www.change.org/p/frederick-c...d-high-schools

Thoughts?

I understand that the consensus on this forum tends to lean conservative (albeit with a visible minority of liberal posters), but personally, I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand, we can't deny the historical impacts Thomas Johnson made back in the Revolutionary era, especially locally. But on the other, the student body of GTJHS is now 23% black (and 63% ethnic minorities), and increasing each year. I'm sure many do not take very kindly to the fact that their school is named after someone who historically oppressed the groups to which they strongly identify and belong with.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Chief Sipwiaac

https://www.change.org/p/frederick-c...d-high-schools

Thoughts?

I understand that the consensus on this forum tends to lean conservative (albeit with a visible minority of liberal posters), but personally, I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand, we can't deny the historical impacts Thomas Johnson made back in the Revolutionary era, especially locally. But on the other, the student body of GTJHS is now 23% black (and 63% ethnic minorities), and increasing each year. I'm sure many do not take very kindly to the fact that their school is named after someone who historically oppressed the groups to which they strongly identify and belong with.

I had no idea who Thomas Johnson was until reading this. Never heard of him. That's why I think it is important for these things (names, monuments, etc.) to remain as they are with additional context or complements. Erasing the history of this country serves zero purpose. It will not boost someone's self-esteem. It will not solve inequities. Just because something makes you uncomfortable doesn't mean that it has to change.

[Chief Sipwiaac]

Originally Posted by Hiruko

I had no idea who Thomas Johnson was until reading this. Never heard of him. That's why I think it is important for these things (names, monuments, etc.) to remain as they are with additional context or complements. Erasing the history of this country serves zero purpose. It will not boost someone's self-esteem. It will not solve inequities. Just because something makes you uncomfortable doesn't mean that it has to change.

He's more of a local figure. And while that's true, the person they're trying to rename it to does have historical significance too.

[Hiruko]

Originally Posted by Chief Sipwiaac

He's more of a local figure. And while that's true, the person they're trying to rename it to does have historical significance too.

There is no reason to take the name off of something to put up another. If there is a desire to honor someone else, it is very easy to find another place/thing.

And, Johnson seems to have had an influence that went well beyond Maryland, in actuality.

[bus man]

Thomas Johnson was a former governor of Maryland. That, right there, earns him the right to have his name on a school building. Not to mention, schools should be teaching history -- ALL of history, the good, the bad, and the ugly -- so that students can learn from it, and hopefully not repeat it.

As to why there are two schools named after Johnson, I have no idea. This does seem a bit confusing. Maybe one of them should be renamed and the other left as it is.

[bus man]

Originally Posted by Chief Sipwiaac

But on the other, the student body of GTJHS is now 23% black (and 63% ethnic minorities), and increasing each year. I'm sure many do not take very kindly to the fact that their school is named after someone who historically oppressed the groups to which they strongly identify and belong with.

Maybe 100% of the students there should be taught that history is a complicated thing, and people are complicated creatures, and there are some individuals who have done both good and bad in their lives. And maybe they should be taught that we can honor someone for some of their accomplishments (such as, in this case, being a governor) while also not overlooking their faults. A side lesson could be that society's attitudes change over time, and what people today consider to be right or wrong is not always the same as what our ancestors considered right or wrong. And that we should be cautious about judging people from the past based on today's standards, lest the people of today be judged in the future by future standards.

All of these lessons would be enhanced by keeping the name of the school and explaining why it's being kept, despite some very negative things about the person being honored.

[MrRational]

Originally Posted by bus man

...and what people today consider to be right or wrong is not always the same as what our ancestors considered right or wrong.
And that we should be cautious about judging people from the past based on today's standards...

At some point and likely requiring different points for different topics...
we'll have to draw a date line in the sand where what came before is tolerated (if not excused)
...and what came after that point is neither. eg: 1807 or 1828 wrt abolition and all related to that.

[Chief Sipwiaac]

Originally Posted by MrRational

At some point and likely requiring different points for different topics...
we'll have to draw a date line in the sand where what came before is tolerated (if not excused)
...and what came after that point is neither. eg: 1807 or 1828 wrt abolition and all related to that.

Yeah I agree, like obviously we wouldn't idolize, say, a tribal warrior that went around pillaging and raping people, even though that is what was tolerated back then.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Chief Sipwiaac

Yeah I agree, like obviously we wouldn't idolize, say, a tribal warrior that went around pillaging and raping people, even though that is what was tolerated back then.

Well, there goes Cochise County. And the towns named after Tecumseh.

[G1..]

Originally Posted by Chief Sipwiaac

https://www.change.org/p/frederick-c...d-high-schools

Thoughts?

I understand that the consensus on this forum tends to lean conservative (albeit with a visible minority of liberal posters), but personally, I have mixed feelings on this. On one hand, we can't deny the historical impacts Thomas Johnson made back in the Revolutionary era, especially locally. But on the other, the student body of GTJHS is now 23% black (and 63% ethnic minorities), and increasing each year. I'm sure many do not take very kindly to the fact that their school is named after someone who historically oppressed the groups to which they strongly identify and belong with.

The fact that you think these kids know or care who Thomas Johnson was shows how far removed from reality you are. They want to know when they can get their driver license's and who is playing what video game?