The public feedback comments regarding Appleton Area School District’s proposal to change the name of Lincoln Elementary to Ronald C. Dunlap Elementary – Home of the Lincoln Lions have been posted. There are formatting issues with the PDF the district has provided and some of the longer comments have been cut off, which is unfortunate, but for the most part, everything is legible. You can download a copy of the comments here:
After having reviewed all the comments, my impression is that there appears to be widespread community respect for Ron Dunlap as well as broad support for honoring him publicly in some way. That consensus, however, fractures in the face of the proposal to honor Mr. Dunlap specifically by removing President Lincoln’s name from the elementary school that currently bears his name and replacing it with Ronald C. Dunlap.
The arguments in favor of renaming Lincoln Elementary school after Ronald Dunlap appear to be that he was an influential and much loved community member who had a very positive impact on his students as well as other people he interacted with and who helped further diversity within the Fox Cities. His oft repeated quote, “Always remember to treat everyone as you wish to be treated and carry yourself with respect and dignity,” was referenced in multiple letters. They also thought naming the building after him would be inspirational to current Black students. Here are a few of the examples of letters written by people in favor of the name change:
“The impact Ron Dunlap has had on the Fox Cities community is palpable. But what seems most significant to me, is the individual affect he had on each of the students who came through the doors of Lincoln Elementary. The encouragement he gave, the kindness he showed, the expectation of high character and personal responsibility has helped shape a generation of students, who have / will become community leaders and parents likely to carry it forward. Seeing and hearing his name in connection with the school will be a reminder of the values he exuded and a fitting way to honor the man whose presence impacted so many.”
“I have heard that there will be discussion about renaming Lincoln Elementary in honor of Ron Dunlap. Please consider this email in favor of that motion. Ronald C. Dunlap was a giant in size and heart. He was a champion of social justice well before it was popular or part of the national dialog. He was a mentor to thousands of students and taught us the importance of humanity and empathy. He taught us to be thinkers and doers, called us to act in the face of inequality and speak up for people who couldn’t speak for themselves. We learned that justice is not swift, but a long journey. We learned so much from him and it seems so timely that this discussion is coming up in a time when the nation is trying to reconcile race and social justice. It would shine a healing light on the city of Appleton to name this school after him. I can think of no better way to start a hopeful course of action after such a difficult year for students in the face of covid and the race dialog in this beautiful nation of ours. I hope the vote is unanimous and the outpouring of support undeniable.”
“Beautiful idea. Years ago Ron mentored me around diversity and inclusion. I work for another School District, a community not as diverse as Appleton. Ron saw my passion and opportunities to help me grow. The work he had been a part of influenced so many children, families and educators. Renaming Lincoln would bring about sense of community that is focused on equity and inclusion. It would be a culturally responsive decision!”
“Honoring a Black educator that had such an impact on the lives of students local to this area would be a wonderful gesture and be an inspirations to current Black students and show that AASD is sensitive to the representation of POC at all levels of education, including the names of schools.”
“Beautiful idea. Years ago Ron mentored me around diversity and inclusion. I work for another School District, a community not as diverse as Appleton. Ron saw my passion and opportunities to help me grow. The work he had been a part of influenced so many children, families and educators. Renaming Lincoln would bring about sense of community that is focused on equity and inclusion. It would be a culturally responsive decision!”
Those opposed to the name change did not appear to be opposed to honoring Mr. Dunlap. The concerns raised were that the name change disrespected President Lincoln who is one of American’s greatest Presidents and responsible for ending chattel slavery in our country, that the change looks bad given the current political climate or potentially is indeed politically motivated in spite of the district’s claims that it is merely an attempt to honor Mr. Dunlap, and that it will open the door to renaming other schools in the district. There were also people who felt it that it took away from the people who had experienced that school outside of Mr. Dunlap’s tenure. Others thought that even though he’s well liked at this moment that people won’t remember him in the future. There were also concerns raised about the cost of the change. Here are a few examples:
“I strongly object to renaming Lincoln Elementary for the following reasons:
1) The AASD is showing no consideration of Lincoln’s national and international importance to what Lincoln stood for, i.e., the rights of all people under our Constitution and the power of those rights in how they benefit a nation.
2) Removing Lincoln’s name in our current political environment and where there has been an effort to remove the Lincoln Memorial in DC should tell the AASD Board don’t do this, especially at this time. Do it and you will see a backlash in my opinion.
3) What is the AASD policy when it comes to renaming a school? Naming a new school or facility is one thing but removing the name and replacing it with another says there needs to be a “renaming policy” not just a “naming policy.” If there isn’t a renaming policy, why isn’t there one? There should be one one because you already took down the name of Roosevelt in you renamed the Roosevelt School.
4) Many residents in the AASD will read this renaming of Lincoln as another effort to black list ALL Republicans as morally evil people who must have NO public recognition for any good they may have done in our nations history.”
“I agree with the idea of naming schools/buildings/facilities after former teachers who had long-standing positive influences within the district. Based on all communications I receive from the AASD, I know that the district is highly concerned with the way it carefully presents itself. So I’m baffled by the fact that, especially within the current social context, the district would even entertain the idea of renaming LINCOLN elementary school. Yes, I understand this was the building Mr Dunlap worked at, so it would make natural sense to name the building for him. On the other hand: LINCOLN….. And to say that this is “not an effort to eliminate a current school name” while literally doing just that is a poor argument at best and a waste of words. The consolation of pairing one of the most important figures in American history with the cartoon mascot of an elementary school is pretty degrading in my opinion. I didn’t know Mr Dunlap, but I would hazard to guess that he wouldn’t consider himself more important than Lincoln, but would be honored to simply be mentioned in the same breath. So why not simply Lincoln – Dunlap Elementary?”
“My heart sank when I saw this article because anyone with half a brain (such as myself) can see what’s coming. Pandora’s box has been opened in the most innocent of ways at the expense of two great men. Out of the box will come hate, resentment, self-righteousness, bigotry, racism, community division, and more. Your timing seems almost contrived and that’s concerning.”
“No, he may have been a great part of the school in the past but future generations won’t know him or have any significance. The change can be costly and just confusing to all in Appleton to rename a school after so many years. Get a memorial playground for him or bench, something that can symbolize with in a better fashion. Rename the Gym or Library in his honor. Not the school.”
“It is a terrible idea. My first day of kindergarten was the first day that Lincoln opened. There have been many principals, each and all deserve their name on the school as much as Mr. Dunlap. The school is named after one of our finest presidents, and as great as he may have been, Mr Dunlap was no equal. The legacy of the school needs to remain intact, not a subtitle. Put a memorial out front for him. Or name the next school. Don’t mess up the history and the memories of the many thousands of us who spent 7 years there. “
A third group of respondents were not necessarily for or against the name change but were outraged and offended that the district and the Board of Education are discussing this issue at all at this time, and thought they should be focusing their energies on getting kids back into school full time and rectifying the academic damage done to the students this last year. Here are some examples:
“I typically stay very quite about AASD and your decisions, but I think that this is a slap in parents faces right now. The fact that you are even considering a name change when you can’t figure out how to send kids to school full time. This is an embarrassment to AASD. My family and I are currently looking to move because I have lost all faith in your decision making. Let’s put kids first and follow the ORDER that we need to open schools. Allow us mother’s to get back to work instead of having to school our kids. Once schools are open please feel free to rename anything you would like.’
“I am confused why this of all things is a priority. I think this should be tabled until we have kids in school full time. The name of the school doesn’t matter if you don’t have kids in it. I would rather time be spent on figuring out how to get my kid in your school 5 days a week. No one cares about anything else right now. It is comparable to asking what color paint we should do the walls as the building is burning down. No one cares. Put the fire out first then worry about the darn color of the walls. Seriously AASD???? You want me to take time to discuss the darn name? Stupid.”
“I honestly think that the timing of this is extremely unfortunate and frankly, embarrassing. AASD BOE spent more time discussing this agenda item than the present and active situation that our children continue to struggle every day because AASD refuses to resume full-time service to our community. And to so quickly suggest that there be community input on an discussion this this when community input has been completely stifled regarding to other effects of children and families for this entire school year? Appalling. There should be no “business as usual” until the current crisis is overcome and AASD leadership employs every ounce of energy to resume quality education and demonstrates that our children are truly a priority. There is no concern bigger than this. And if I were Ron Dunlap I’d be appalled to be associated with the current state of AASD. If there are truly extra funds available to spend on a renaming project, please consider using those funds to the fullest by starting a grant fund, scholarship, or other program focused on helping our most vulnerable children recover from the neglect they have endured during this past year. Even better, start a Community School project at Lincoln and call it the Dunlap Center if you really want to highlight the legacy of caring deeply for our children. And please, let us all refocus on carrying out Ron Dunlap’s example by caring for all of our children and” [the rest of the letter was cut off due to formatting issues on AASD’s part.]
There were four other comments that stood out to me as being unique from the other feedback. One pointed out that Mr. Dunlap had left Lincoln Elementary and moved on to a different school before he retired. I may have missed them, but I didn’t see any other comments that made this point.
“If Ron has spent his entire Appleton career at Lincoln, and stayed there until he retired I might feel differently, but he LEFT Lincoln to further his career. Let it stay with the name he had when he LEFT it.”
The other three comments that stood out to me were, unless I missed any, what appear to be the only three comments that spoke disfavorably about Ronald Dunlap as a person and/or principal.
“My son attended Lincoln Elementary years ago. If you were to ask me the worst principal my son or daughter ever had, I would say Ron Dunlap. He was extremely stern and unforgiving. Even so, the kids were out of control. In 3rd grade, I thought my son needed self-defense classes just to make it through school. Also, over half of the teachers quit that year, which if memory serves, was after Mr Dunlap’s first year as principal. That tells me there is a problem with the boss if half the employees quit. I’m not in favor of a name change for the school.”
“I do not think that Ron Dunn lap deserve this. When my son was going to school he made life so difficult. Just because he was a big kid. He also had a learning disability. When talking to mr. Dunlap about things he was caught in several lies. My personal opinion is there is no need to change Lincoln School’s name. It is a good school and a waste of money to change its name. And personally dealing with the school system for as long as I have there are far more better teachers and administration people out there that deserve this than he did.”
“Do not change the name of the elementary school. My experiences with Ron Dunlap were not all pleasant. I majored in history and if anyone deserves a school named after them it is Abraham Lincoln. Keep the school’s original name. If AASD wants to name something after Ron Dunlap it should be something else.”
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