Poughkeepsie: My Son’s School Was Named After A Slave Owner

In Poughkeepsie, three schools—Samuel F.B. Morse, Gov. George Clinton, and Christopher Columbus—are being renamed because "their namesakes’ actions and opinions no longer reflect the district’s values.". My son is in the fifth grade at Gov. George Clinton Elementary, and when I learned that Clinton himself owned eight slaves, it made me think about how history and the past shape the present. It’s not something I’d really considered before. Of course, my son doesn’t seem too concerned about it—he’s more focused on his schoolwork—but for me, it’s a reminder of how we want our schools to represent the values we hope to instill in kids today.

Locals Weigh In On New Names

Numerous names have been proposed, including well-known historical figures like Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. All excellent decisions. Honoring local heroes like Firefighter Timothy Gunther and Detective John Falcone, who both sadly lost their lives while performing their duties, has also been discussed. Some suggested that Clinton Elementary be renamed after the street it sits on, Montgomery Street. Unfortunately, Gen. Richard Montgomery, likely the inspiration for the street’s name, also owned slaves. It’s a complicated conversation, and one that reminds us how nuanced these decisions can be.

A Lighthearted Suggestion

As for a possible solution, I couldn’t help but wonder—why not just drop the “Gov.” and rename the school after George Clinton, the legendary frontman of Parliament Funkadelic? It may not be the most traditional choice, but hey, it would certainly add some funk to the school spirit. My son might not have any suggestions of his own, but I think it's funktastic!