As a parent and Plainsboro resident for more than 21 years, I would like to ask the school board’s Administration and Facilities Committee to take a different perspective on the re-naming of Community Middle School. The committee members essentially said they did not see a good reason to re-name the school.
I have a different view on this. The name “Community” is too nondescript for this wonderful school, which was built literally and programmatically from the ground up by Dr. Arthur C. Downs. “Community,” as a name for a school, could be in any town, anywhere. It strikes me as a placeholder, analogous to the cards that say “Baby Boy” or “Baby Girl” that label bassinets in the newborn nursery. A placeholder name is waiting for its official name, one which is chosen specifically for the individual.
I also feel that re-naming Community in honor of Dr. Downs would add some symmetry to our district school names. It would be nice if both of our middle schools are named for prominent individuals. We have symmetry in the names of all our other schools. If the board really needs a reason to change Community’s name, please consider this. The board already knows there is immense support from the constituents to rename the school in honor of an outstanding individual, Dr. Arthur C. Downs.
Laura Nash
Plainsboro
