In last week’s newspaper we published an explanation by the educators at the high school formerly known as Sir Francis Drake as to why the 16th century explorer’s name must be erased from the Marin school.
Two things seemed clear to me: 1. The removal of Drake’s name from the high school was done remarkably fast, and 2. The broad assertions from staff about why Drake had to go lack clear substantiation.
Here’s what teachers wrote:
“We, the staff of Sir Francis Drake High School … acknowledge the racist and violent acts of Francis Drake, a slave trader, slave owner, and colonizer, and the legacy of white supremacy he represents. Honoring such a person is counter to the values held by our community and counter to the lessons and values we wish our students and colleagues to learn.
“We also recognize that these same inequitable policies, systems, and behaviors have neg- atively impacted our LGBTQ+, English learners, and learning disabled communities. While our primary concern is anti-racist action, we believe that such action must and will support equity for all marginalized community members.
“By supporting this action, we are not seeking to erase our history but to acknowledge the deep racist roots of that history. Our responsibility will then be to dedicate time and work to build a truly anti-racist school culture. We hope that our new name will emerge from this re- flective journey.”
How Drake makes it harder for faculty to teach “LGBT+, English learners and learning disable communities” is, at best, unexplained. Plus there’s not even a wink and nod to the latest and best scholarship on Drake that finds him ahead of his time in recognizing the evils of slavery. His late-in-life redemption, which also was accompanied by real deeds, would argue for keeping the name and teaching his story, no?
The whole rush to shame Drake has a disturbing group-hysteria vibe to it.
Look, before I get further into this name-change brouhaha, you need to know that I don’t have strong feelings about Drake as an historical figure. I never was much of a pirate man myself. So, if the Drake High School community wants a change, it’s no skin off my nose. But I, for one, would love to hear a plain English, intellectually honest argument put forth for doing so.
Is that asking too much?
GRANDMA’S GARDEN
Remember how grandma loved to garden? Well, now, thanks to modern science, she could be the garden. A funeral company out of Washington State called Recompose has a new process of converting human remains into soil. And, it’s getting state approval. (Oh, those Washington State folks.)
As for me, the whole idea gives me the creeps.
COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS
Marin has wind, rain, fires and quakes. But at least we don’t have this:
ONE MORE THING
— Dad: “Go to your room!”
Son: “Jim Morrison was overrated!”
Dad: “What did I tell you about slamming the Doors?”
— What has 8 actors, 4 locations, 2 writers and 1 plot? 562 Hallmark Christmas movies.
— Remember “i” before “e” except when your foreign friend Keith receives eight counterfeit beige sleighs from feisty caffeinated weightlifters. Weird.
— All the best Liam Neeson puns are Taken.
And with that, my slightly jaded, bad pun-loving, literary friends, I’ll pick up my knitting and let myself out. Be kind. Mask up. For a more joyful 2021, subscribe to this newspaper. Call Donna at 415-898-0784 and tell her I sent you.
(Sherman R. Frederick is the founder of Battle Born Media, a journalist-based, family-owned company dedicated to the preservation of intensely local community newspapers, such as this one. You can follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/sherm.frederick/. He may be reached at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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