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Schools seek presidential namesake
Published Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Mackenzie Schara
What’s in a name? A lot if you’re one of the students who will attend Fergus Falls Middle School once it’s renovated and home to middle and high schoolers in 2009.
Faced with the question of what to name the future secondary school, the district is asking for suggestions from the public. The district would like to stick with its presidents theme, so The Daily Journal caught up with a handful of current middle schoolers to hear their favorite history-makers.
For sixth-grader Mackenzie Schara, Teddy Roosevelt is the best namesake.
“I like him because he was good to the environment and that’s what they should be teaching in school,” she said, adding the name also makes sense considering Roosevelt Park sits across the street.
Andrew Eerdmans said James Polk doesn’t get enough credit for acquiring Oregon, California and New Mexico during his mid-nineteenth century presidency.
“He’s kind of the forgotten president,” Eerdmans said. “He’s not really recognized as much as he should be.”
“I think Ronald Reagan because he pretty much stopped us from going into another war by signing the INF (intermediate range nuclear forces) treaty of 1987,” said eighth-grader Sam Wasberg, “and he was a really good president.”
The public can submit name suggestions by filling out a brief entry form at the district’s Web site, www.fergusfalls.k12.mn.us, or by calling the district office at 998-0544, ext. 1015. The district will take suggestions through March 7, giving students like Megan Fritz some time to decide which president they like best.
“You only get so much information on each president in social studies,” she said.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by lenny (anonymous) on February 20, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is easy. With cost overruns, bad planning, and students who can’t find Minnesota on a map. The name has to be…must be, “George Bush Middle School”.
Posted by melindakay (anonymous) on February 20, 2008 at 6:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Barack Obama Middle School!
Or Paul Wellstone Middle School!
Posted by oldotter (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why would anyone want to have to walk into a school named after a bad actor. Do your homework and come up with someone of whom you can actually be proud. Reagan was a political hack!!!!
Posted by tsy86h (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OLDotter- Do you really need to make fun of the opinion of a middle school aged child????
Posted by yepUbetchya (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 9:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about Taft, he would best represent our school administration. Or better yet, why not use one of the current names, like Cleveland? Good president, existing name. Then the school can get back to education.
Posted by lonvg (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oldotter-
Reagan a political hack? He won the cold war; reduced taxes, unemployment and inflation simultaneously leading to nearly two decades of uninterrupted economic expansion; revitalized the armed services, and changed America's perception of itself. Clearly the most important political figure of the second half of the century, it is no surprise that he perrenially ranks among the top five presidents of all time. Even Barack Obama recognizes his importance.
We could do a lot worse than to name a school after him. Who would you prefer ... Jimmy Carter? LBJ? Bill Clinton?
Posted by lenny (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
lonvg, what are you on!!!!!!
Posted by GDIDEA (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
How about Oatis Lagrand Middle School, he impacted alot of
kids back when he was anouncing games etc.on KBRF radio.
I think it would be a great honor to him. For the time he
spent with kids etc. Its just an idea.
Posted by lonvg (anonymous) on February 21, 2008 at 2:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Lenny-
I'm on the money, my friend. On the money.
Posted by oldotter (anonymous) on February 22, 2008 at 10:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes, though I am not necessarily endorsing the idea, I would prefer naming the the school after Carter, LBJ or Clinton to Reagan. If you would get out of your provincial right wing mindset, you might discover that all were much more respected by the rest of the world's population.
And I too like the Oatis Legrand idea.
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