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Today's Poll: Would you support renaming Jackson School after a historically important Batavian?

By Howard B. Owens
Steve Ognibene

I think this should be a consideration if they are looking to change the name instead of calling it Batavia Primary School, why not name it after someone like they have with John Kennedy.

I would be open to learn more about the schools past history like how they chose to name John Kennedy School and see if someone could be honored by changing the Jackson name.

Was their a person with the last name Jackson that is being honored here for the school it's marked today or is it just after the streets surrounding the school?

I am very curious to know.

May 24, 2012, 8:52am Permalink
C. M. Barons

Re-purposing of school buildings is a universal practice. The ability of students and parents to sort through current and obsolete building names and applications is remarkable. The brick edifice in the Village of Bergen bears the name Bergen High School. It is currently an apartment building. It hasn't been an institution of learning since the 1970s. It served high school students from 1928 through the 1950s. From 1959 to 1964 it served grades K to 6. After 1964, grades K through 4 had classes in the old high school. In the latter years of the building's educational tenure, it was leased to the BOCES for special ed classrooms. Throughout its half-century term as a school with varied assignment of purpose, the building bore but one name. The buses made their appointed stops, the children made it to class and the parents found their way to plays and PTA meetings.

Everyday, millions of first-graders find their seat at a lunch-room table without place cards!

May 24, 2012, 12:14pm Permalink
Jason Brunner

Here's a thought, if you want the parents and children *trying* to grow a family in Batavia to be happy, STOP changing things. We apparently have no choice in the consolidation. We are being thrown a bone with the name change thing, but really it just doesn't matter! I'd like them to take the time instead to figure out where they are going to house 200 EXTRA children in the John Kennedy school building next year. Or how about taking the time to explain to us all again how exactly this is supposed to save money without hurting our children's education because I don't buy it.

May 24, 2012, 8:16pm Permalink
Dave Meyer

Where the hell did this name change stuff come from? I mean what's the point?
I think it's safe to say that most parents of school age children have pretty much accepted that the school consolidation is going to happen. Why muddy the waters with what would inevitably be a name search committee, and votes, etc., etc.

I agree with Sara....get on with it already and forget about this name change crap. How does this improve the educational experience for the children of Batavia one iota??

This would be a complete waste of time and effort and eventually money because new signage, stationary, etc. would ultimately be necessary.

May 24, 2012, 9:36pm Permalink

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