Medford is renaming the Columbus Elementary School: 18 possible names on list
A Medford committee to rename the Columbus Elementary School has narrowed down its list to nearly 20 possible names and is now turning to the public for input on the name change.
After last year’s Medford School Committee decision to replace Columbus’ name, the 23 members of the Advisory Committee to Rename the Columbus Elementary School has now cut the list to 18 possible school names.
Those names include Boston Marathon bombing victim Krystle Campbell, the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Boston Massacre victim Crispus Attucks, several abolitionists, Native American tribes, Medford educators and local Italian-Americans.
Now that the list has been narrowed to 18 possible names, the renaming committee this week is looking to the community for input. They’ve put out a survey for Medford residents, employees of Medford Public Schools and other Medford community members to share opinions on their favorite name.
Jim Lister, of the Medford renaming committee, at a recent meeting said their goal is to “include everybody and get everybody’s opinion” on the list of names.
Last June, the Medford School Committee voted to rename the Columbus Elementary School effective July 1, 2021. This name change comes as Columbus’ name has been taken off buildings across the country and Columbus Day is being changed to Indigenous Peoples Day in many communities, as residents cite his killing of native people.
In Boston last June, the Christopher Columbus statue in the North End was beheaded and removed from the park.
In Medford, the School Committee this March voted to create the Columbus Elementary School renaming committee to review all suggestions from community members for a new name.
After public input, the committee will narrow the semifinalists down to three names. The School Committee will then vote to choose the new name from the final three.
For the renaming survey, Medford community members can submit one written statement supporting one candidate or arguing against one candidate from the list of 18 names. Statements are limited to 1,500 characters, or roughly 250 words.
“Participants may provide factual information and emotional appeals to inspire the votes of both the Renaming Advisory Committee and the School Committee,” the survey reads.
The Advisory Committee to Rename the Columbus Elementary School is seeking survey submissions by Thursday. The Google Survey can be found in the superintendent’s message on May 14, under the Medford Public Schools news section at mps02155.org/news.
Printed copies of the survey are available at Medford City Hall and in the superintendent’s office located at Medford High School.
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3tZ8Gsv
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