We can easily forget the symbolism involved–until we regret decisions that were made years before.
The civic issues of the past months have caused me to recall my youth. I grew up in a small town in North Carolina. It was a cotton mill town, owned by J.W. Cannon. Our high school–A.L. Brown High–wore Green and White. We were ‘The Wonders.’
Constructed in 1920, during the expansive years of Cannon Mills, Mr. Cannon donated the land. The school carried the name Centerview for three decades but it was re-named in 1951 for Alfred Luther Brown, a popular mill executive.
The world was far from perfect back then (it was segregated, for one), but I liked the fact that our high school was named after Brown, a person of honor, who did many things to help our community.
Courtesy: Fridaynightsinktown.weebly.com
Our school colors were Kelly Green and White. Kelly Green represents growth and lushness. White symbolizes purity.
We sometimes forget that colors are symbolic. I liked what our school colors expressed. Our nickname was “The Wonders,” which represents a good thing, like a surprise, of positive things–either now or in the future. It’s not problematic, as are some nicknames–Washington’s NFL team, for example.
Ours was a city school at a time of school consolidation. Large schools were built and given geographic names, like South Rowan (a consolidated school serving the southern part of the county). The school was located in China Grove, and to name it after the town would have shown favoritism.
What’s the general importance of what I write here? In the town where I grew up, nobody ever talked about removing the school name, tearing down a statue, changing the school colors, or picking a new mascot. Decisions made long ago have stood the test of time.
The adults of my town–lo, those many years ago–didn’t foist on the school either ideology or blandness. They chose names with meaning–a meaningful school name, a meaningful school nickname, and meaningful school colors.
That’s a lesson to school administrators today. You need to do better than many of your predecessors. Act with meaning, and act in ways that will pass the test of time. Don’t create a mess.
Our communities and children deserve goodness.
