MHS Renaming Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is Madison High School’s name being changed?

Our high school is one of the most diverse in Oregon, with almost 67% of students coming from Black, Indigenous, LatinX, Asian, American Indian, and other communities of color.  At Madison, our values are Community, Respect, Education, Equity, and Diversity. Our school’s namesake, President James Madison’s racist beliefs and actions stand in direct conflict with our school’s and our district’s commitment to racial equity. 

James Madison recognized the immorality of enslaving humans, but he continued to enslave over 100 people throughout his lifetime, he made sure Black Americans were counted as 3/5ths of a human in the Constitution as a way to give more representation and power to slave-states, and he attacked Native American nations as he made racist and bigoted statements to justify such attacks. When our public schools are named after individuals who advanced slavery and systemic racism, and we allow those names to remain on school property, we tacitly endorse their values as our own.  

In 2019, the Madison Peace and Justice Club conducted a poll where more than 85% of students supported the name change, and in 2020, a Change.org petition garnered over 4,300 signatures.  This effort coincides with a district-wide policy from Spring 2020 that put in motion a process for re-evaluating the names of all PPS high schools.

 

We want ALL students, staff, faculty, and people of the community to feel welcomed when they arrive at the steps of Madison. At this tender age, there are already enough pressures and responsibilities and being able to lift this weight would lessen that load. Although this may seem like a small, insignificant step towards uniting a community to some, it offers the opportunity to correct other injustices to work on in this community. 

 

2.  Isn’t everybody flawed?  Isn’t it true that no name can be perfect?

While it may be true that nobody is perfect, the goal is to rename the building to one that inspires and lives up to the values of CREED that are the driving force of the school. Every name suggested will be scored on how that name aligns with COMMUNITY, RESPECT, EDUCATION, EQUITY, and DIVERSITY, the well-established CREED core values. Rigorous vetting will occur for any name suggested, while keeping the values of CREED at the forefront of decision-making. The actions and beliefs of James Madison certainly ran directly counter to the CREED values, and the district recognizes that this injustice needs to be rectified. 

 

3.  Why now?

Though the initial proposal to change the name of Madison High School is seven years old, the Portland Public School Board is responding to recent, vigorous community energy demanding social and racial justice. With a strong district commitment and an explicit policy of using an equity lens in all future decision-making, as well as having a building remodel in the works, now is the perfect and practical time to make this name change.  A petition to rename Madison collected more than 4,300 signatures of support.  A survey of Madison students showed that 85% are in favor of replacing James Madison as their figurehead.  Changing the name of the school is long overdue since every year, hundreds of students graduate from an institution that has continued to honor and uplift the legacy of a man who tortured, split families apart, and enslaved the ancestors of today’s American citizens.

 

A new name at this time is completely fitting as students will be entering a remodeled building with other modern updates as early as the fall of 2021.  A name reflecting a dedication to social justice is better introduced with a new opening rather than later after norms and routines have been established. For this reason, now is an ideal time to change the name: we will have new buildings, new hallways, and new fields, and we want the name that is emblazoned on them to be uplifting and inspiring. The Portland Public School Board made a decision in August of 2020 to include Madison in the initial phase of renaming its buildings and facilities, thus becoming the second PPS high school to be renamed, after Wilson High School. 

 

4.  How will this name change happen?  What is the timeline and process?

Community participation is the key to the renaming process. Multiple social media avenues and outreach strategies have been employed to ensure that anyone interested has the chance to submit their ideas.  Once the prospective names have been gathered, they will each be scored on how the name aligns with the school’s CREED values.  Extensive discussion and a process of elimination will result in a final name being submitted to the school board for approval, in the winter of 2020.  The goal is that the newly remodeled building has a new name when students return in the fall of 2021.

 

5.  Are other schools doing this? How come I have not heard of other schools being renamed?

Yes, other schools will go through this process, as PPS has committed to re-evaluating the names of most of their buildings and facilities using a social justice and equity lens. For the next several years, name changes will occur throughout the PPS district.  Fortunately, Madison is at the forefront of this process for high schools, along with  Wilson High School, which is slated to have a new name by the spring of 2021.

 

6.  Who is deciding the name change, and how were they chosen?

Ultimately, the Portland Public Schools Board of Education made the decision to change the school’s name, but in doing so, they’ve made it clear that community input and involvement in selecting a new name is critical.    

That’s why the board and Madison Principal reached out through the news, social media, PTSA, and school newsletters to encourage students, families, alumni, teachers, and community members to apply for the official renaming committee.  Dozens of applications were received. 

 

The Madison Renaming Committee is a group of 19 people who applied and asked to do this work.  As directed by PPS Renaming Policy, they are led by a PPS Community Engagement Specialist and Madison’s Principal. The group includes diverse and interested parties willing to complete this exciting task, but will only be providing a recommendation for the Board’s final decision. 

 

7.  How can I submit my ideas?

We want to hear from you!  Please use the link to take the survey, and/or the provided E-Mail to communicate with the Renaming Committee:

 

8.  What does this mean for the mascot and school colors?

The school mascot and school colors will be considered once a new school name has been decided upon by the school board.  The Renaming Committee has a very short timeline and a limited scope, so deciding on the mascot and colors will be a separate task.

 

9.  Will Madison have a new name by the time students enter the new remodel?

The plan is that the school will indeed have a new name by the fall of 2021 when students are expected to return to the building.

 

10. Weren’t all Americans racist when the United States was getting established in the 1700s?  Isn’t it true that  there weren’t any anti-racist people during the “founding fathers” time?

As has been true throughout US History, there were both racist and anti-racist citizens and leaders during the country’s founding years of the late 1700s.  Establishing white supremacy policies was a choice and not a foregone conclusion.  As the Constitution was being written and debated, there were courageous people of many racial, ethnic, and gender backgrounds who spoke out against the slave system and committed themselves to making the new country fairer. Should the community at large speak up to encourage the school board to pick a name from that era, there are certainly many possibilities, including folks who attended the Constitutional Convention.  But there are also people from the 1800s, 1900s, and 2000s that have done a lot to make our country and community stronger, more vibrant, and more peaceful.  There are also landmarks, places, and ideas that can inspire and give credence to the CREED values of our school.

 

11.  Isn’t it true that renaming the school is applying modern ethics to the people who were leading our country in the 1700s and 1800s?  Isn’t that unfair?

Unfair, is the illegal captivity of millions of lives who are descendants of African countries. Unfair, is the hurt carried by their descendants who go about their daily lives of their ancestors. The district acknowledges that it is unfair to ignore the racist history of the United States.  The district believes that it is unfair to ask students and the community to continue to carry the name of a brutal slave owner and racist policy creator as their representation on school gear, diplomas, transcripts, uniforms, and the like.  The reverence for historical figures who inflicted harm and trauma has ended in the PPS system, with a solid assurance that new names will be inspirational and welcoming for all.  A name that instills pride while accurately representing the student population and the core values of CREED will display to the students and the community a progressive and justice-oriented environment that cherishes its diverse population. Humanitarianism, ethical behavior, and inclusion are timeless and should be expected from those that we revere.  Truly, fairness is the goal.

 

12.  Won’t this change cost the district and taxpayers millions of dollars?

Certainly, there will be a financial cost to this name change, which the district recognizes and has planned for.  But since our school is already in the process of being rebuilt, the biggest costs of rebranding the building and facilities are paid for with the construction funds of the previous school bond. After the initial phase of renaming and getting the new school building “set up,” the other costs to the renaming process involve rebranding stationery, sports team uniforms, and other “consumable” items.  PPS already has to pay money to replace those items when they are used up or worn out.  Sports teams, for example, are not using the same uniforms from ten years ago.  So, the cost to replace these “consumables,” will be no more than what it usually costs to replace items required by any other school.  The district has changed the names of schools before, so this is not an unfamiliar process.  Each building has different considerations and thus, different costs involved with a change of name.

 

13.  Does changing the name erase history?

Absolutely not.  This name change actually CONFRONTS history and makes a bold correction of injustice as we move forward.  Just as a crumbling building needs to be remodeled for future use, change of this kind is fundamental for putting into practice the district values of equity and fairness.  Students will still be taught about the Constitution, the “founders” of the country, and their legacy of both the American ideals and also racial injustice.  Textbooks will still include chapters and citizens can still visit museums dedicated to those topics.

 

Those who have strong ties to Madison High School will still retain their memories with nostalgia and pride.  Nobody can erase personal memories.  The district can, though, do its part to address systemic racism by implementing names of greatness throughout the district that reflect values deemed as instrumental to inclusion and fairness.

 

14:  How can I learn more?

The Renaming Committee is taking input from our community until December 2nd, please check out the website to access the survey in different languages. If you have any questions please feel free to email naming@pps.net for more information about the overall process. 

 

Links to: 

District Policy on Renaming: https://www.pps.net/cms/lib/OR01913224/Centricity/Domain/4814/2.20.011-AD.pdf

 

Oregon.live article: https://www.oregonlive.com/education/2020/10/madison-high-principal-starts-renaming-process-se-portland-students-push-for-a-ginsburg-middle-school.html

 

Madison Podcast:

https://mhsnews.org/576/podcasts/the-beat-episode-1/

 

Survey link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfElkFXjOGPCOEpH6jU5LiT_2IVeewv-klU0LfO3GFSBsgsRg/viewform

 

Modernization: Here is the Madison Bond webpage link - https://www.pps.net/Page/1840

 

For any questions or feedback, please email naming@pps.net.