School to vote on renaming Jefferson Elementary - President's slave holdings perturb families,...

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/22/5 | Patrick Hoge

[SmithL]

Parents, students and teachers at Berkeley's Thomas Jefferson Elementary School will soon vote on whether to rename their school because the nation's third president was a slave owner.

The question of whether to rename the school has been debated for more than two years -- since several teachers, including an African American mother of three former Jefferson students, said Jefferson's moniker offended them and suggested a name change.

[SmithL]

I am convinced that the only reason that Berkeley exists is to amuse the rest of the Country.

[boomop1]

Name it after BJ Clinton

[boomop1]

Name it after BJ Clinton

[boomop1]

I studddddddered

[AQGeiger]

A school in this area of the nation? They'll probably rename themselves "Mumia Elementary."

[mlc9852]

So are we gonna change all the MLK schools because he was an adulterer? I don't think so.

[TomGuy]

Jefferson's moniker offended them

That's just PC BS. How many people carry the name Jefferson or Washington?

If anyone looks hard enough, they can find something to be offended about.

[randog]

I agree--rename all schools named after slave owners.

Then let's rename everything that's been named after MLK because he was a womanizer.

But that leaves the question: where do we find a man or woman that has no imperfections?

Welcome to Jesus H. Christ Elementary School!

[TRY ONE]

Ut OH! West Virginia must be next, (NOT)!

Those 10,987 buildings and bridges in WV named after 'Sheets' Byrd will be next.

I'm sure the WV residents would not want a Klansman and frequent user of the 'N' word to have all that sh*t named after such. (Sarcasm)

[txroadhawg]

LMAO, that will go over big!

[Michael.SF.]

From the article:

Contenders for the new name included:

Ralph Bunche, the African American diplomat...
Cesar Chavez
Florence McDonald the late Berkeley city councilwoman, leftist political leader and mother of singer Country Joe McDonald.

Other names suggested:

Sojourner Truth, a woman who fled slavery in New York in 1828
Ohlone -- for the indigenous people who lived in Berkeley before European settlers arrived
Peace
Rose
and Sequoia

My bet would have been on Sojuner Truth. A freed slave plus the name is a none to subtle jab at President Bush (from their POV).

[sgtbono2002]

We will need to rename Washington State and Washington DC & by the way would we have to rename Booker T. Washington & George Jefferson from the TV show? This could get funny if it werent so pathetic.

These people need to get a life.

[Michael.SF.]

How many people carry the name Jefferson or Washington?

Good point. Recall also that not too long ago a DNA study was conducted to try and proove that one group of modern 'Jefferson's' were in fact direct decendents of the FSO and POTUS.

So which is it: Are they proud to be decended from him or not?

[Publius6961]

since several teachers, including an African American mother of three former Jefferson students, said Jefferson's moniker offended them and suggested a name change.

Can someone perhaps "suggest" to these loser teachers and that neurotic mother that school names are chosen to serve the community?

Not their (justified) sense of inferiority?

[JBR34]

I couldn't agree more. Will all who support this idea of removing Jefferson from our history please start by sending me all their money with pictures of Jefferson. I also think Ben Franklin was evil too so please send me pictures of him also.

JBR

[Winston7000]

Maybe we should have a contest here at FR to help them with the name change. I am sure that the creative genius of our posters can help them find a suitable replacement name for our third president. Coming from California (where else?), may I suggest "Looney Tunes Elementary Skule"?

[Finalapproach29er]

But naming things after MLK, an adulterous Communist, is just fine.

Of course, Communism is slavery, too.

[Niteranger68]

How about Tupac Shakur Hi Skool?

[metalmanx2j]

While they're at it, why don't they tear up the Declaration of Independence, too. Or, why don't they tear up the Constitution since it was written by some slave holders as well.

Man, PC jargon pisses me off.

[bicyclerepair]

I didn't know that guy was such a little twit at only 5'11" and a measley 154lbs. Geez.