Re: some of the odd recomendations for new names for the old East Junior High (there were only 20 for crying out loud most of them from one of the School Board member’s spouse by the sound of them) I submit this excellent column from a great East High School History teacher, Ken Jensen. He sent it in to the Trib in 2009 related to a potential name change for another Duluth School. I think it applies equally to East. Call it East Middle School and be done with it. Call it Dixon Middle School and forget about passing an operational levy for the next quarter century.
Again, I have my email pals to thank for digging this up:
Name change for Duluth’s Denfeld High School?
As a former history teacher, I always look to history and precedence for answers. When Central High School changed buildings, its proud name and traditions followed. When Morgan Park High School was closed, its proud name and traditions ultimately passed into history.
Again, Duluth sees the closing of a high school. Denfeld is not moving or closing. Why change its name and assume the estimated cost of $250,000 to change the name, colors, and logos on sports equipment, uniforms, and building signs and engravings? I remember witnessing seven years of fundraising just to get new band uniforms! Does the district have so much extra money?
East High School is not closing; it is changing buildings, just as Central did. Shouldn’t precedence be followed? Why assume all those additional costs of changing the name of a building? Does the district want the eastern high school to get all new uniforms, logos, hockey jerseys, and so forth, while the Denfeld community makes do with all its “old” used stuff?
I taught in the West End and in the east end of Duluth , and I hope the district will seek to improve the feelings of both ends of our community rather than creating more negative feelings within the community.
The only justification I have heard for changing a high school name and spending additional dollars is “to unify the new student body.” Why unify one new student body and discriminate against the other?
We also must consider how many dollars in scholarship money would be lost to students if we changed names. What if alumni stop contributing to schools to which they no longer feel connected?
I graduated from the first and oldest high school in Bloomington , Minn. Lincoln High is gone now, along with all its traditions. I understand the feelings of a third of our community. I’ve taught at Central and appreciate the great history and traditions of this fine school and truly wish that Duluth could support three, and even four, high schools. History shows us change is inevitable, and it shows us how to proceed into the future.
History, precedence, fairness and common sense dictate the answer to the question of name changes. After witnessing 40 years of our district’s actions, I doubt that fairness and common sense will prevail.Ken Jensen of Duluth is a former high school history, social studies and journalism teacher.
