/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f8a0257cc9b72b3a339d1c5/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=5196&cropY1=197&cropY2=3120&w=1200&resize=1200,675&ssl=1 "No Lincoln, FDR Or Dianne Feinstein? San Francisco Committee Recommends Removing Names From Schools—And Faces Heavy Backlash")
Topline
San Francisco’s plan to rename up to 44 schools—including those named after Abraham Lincoln, Dianne Feinstein and Franklin Roosevelt—over alleged actions of racism, colonialism and other abuses by a city advisory committee drew a range of heavy criticism from its Mayor and different alumni associations.
An aerial view of the schoolyard at Frank McCoppin Elementary School on March 18, 2020 in San … [+]
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Key Facts
The list of 44 schools was compiled by the San Francisco School Names Advisory Committee, a blue ribbon panel established in 2018 to review school names—but the final decision rests with the school board who still need to vote on any changes.
The criteria for renaming included “anyone directly involved in the colonization of people,” “slave owners or participants in enslavement,” “perpetuators of genocide,” “those who exploit workers/people,” “those who directly oppressed or abused women, children, queer or transgender people,” “those connected to any human rights or environmental abuses,” “those who are known racists and/or white supremacists and/or espoused racist beliefs.”
The committee included Dianne Feinstein Elementary School because of the claim she replaced a vandalized Confederate flag as mayor in 1984— though according to Snopes, it’s unclear whether she personally made the decision and a day later she ordered the flag to be replaced with one honoring Union soldiers.
Abraham Lincoln High School is on the list because Lincoln in 1862 ordered the execution of 38 Native Americans who participated in an uprising in the Minnesota and Dakota territories, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
Franklin Roosevelt, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, Paul Revere and George Washington are also among the names the committee recommended to be removed from schools.
Diane Feinstein’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
Chief Critics
San Francisco Mayor London Breed released a blistering statement against the idea, calling it “offensive” that the school district is devoting resources to name changes instead of addressing the challenges families are facing with distance learning.“Look, I believe in equality. It’s the forefront of my administration and we’ve made historic investments to address the systemic racism confronting our city. But the fact that our kids aren’t in school is what’s driving inequality in our City. Not the name of the school.”
Five high school alumni associations criticized the committee for not consulting professional historians, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.“We need an inclusive process that will allow all communities to be heard, use professional historians applying verifiable data, issue a written report why a school name might be changed, so the community can make a considered decision,” they said.
Key Background
The move comes after schools and public institutions face pressure to rename buildings or remove statues of racist or controversial historical figures in the wake of protests following the death of George Floyd. But even celebrated figures who are known for fighting against the Confederacy, such as Lincoln and Union General Ulysses S. Grant, have been scrutinized for what activists say are lesser known injustices.
Tangent
The school renaming battle mirrors another controversy in San Francisco last year. After years of debate, the school board voted to paint over a mural in a public high school that depicted the life of George Washington and included images of slavery and mistreatment of Native Americans. Russian-born artist Victor Arnautoff painted the mural in 1924 to spotlight the disturbing elements of Washington’s legacy, but critics noted the imagery may still be upsetting for students.
/https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/5f8a0257cc9b72b3a339d1c5/0x0.jpg?cropX1=0&cropX2=5196&cropY1=197&cropY2=3120&w=1200&resize=1200,0&ssl=1&description=No+Lincoln%2C+FDR+Or+Dianne+Feinstein%3F+San+Francisco+Committee+Recommends+Removing+Names+From+Schools%E2%80%94And+Faces+Heavy+Backlash){kind=link}