The public has waded into the process, and that bodes well for
naming the next school
Naming a new school has become a much bigger deal in Gilroy. That’s a good thing. Plenty of names are being bandied about for a new elementary school the Gilroy Unified School District plans to construct in the southwest quadrant of the city.
Suggestions in letters to the editor sent to us abound:
– Charles Gubser, born in Gilroy, grew up on his family’s farm on Frazier Lake Road. He graduated from San Jose State College (1934) and the University of California, and subsequently did two years of post-graduate work, became a state Assemblyman, then a United States Congressman for more than 20 years. Impressive.
– John Wentworth, honored with the rare Silver Star. He was killed in Vietnam after volunteering for multiple tours of duty under dire circumstances. Heroic.
– U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jeramy Ailes, ambushed and killed in Iraq in 2004. He became the first Gilroyan to sacrifice his life in military service to his county since Vietnam. Honorable.
It’s wonderful that there is a community discussion revolving around heroic Gilroyans. Proud names are being brought to the forefront and discussed. It’s a phenomena that is happening for the first time in our community – public lobbying for one person or another.
That should help elevate the conversation, bring new names to the table and allow interested residents to think long and hard about who deserves the honor. Perhaps there should even be a plaque at the school naming others who were under serious consideration.
There is a school district committee, of course, in place that is charged with taking nominations and making a recommendation to the Board of Trustees. They have criteria that includes the obvious – someone who has made contributions to society and is local.
Having a school named after you is quite an honor, one that lasts a very long time. So, it’s appropriate that schools are named only after those who have left this earth.
It’s tricky, of course, judging the merits of those who are in lofty company in terms of sacrifice and contribution. But it’s a better process when the public participates and good people are extolling the virtues of those to be considered honorable enough to have a school named after them.
