In reading the Detroit News, I ran into another one of those head-scratching articles. Cass Tech High School, in Detroit, is one of the most respected high schools in the nation. Why would anyone mess around with something as successful and historic as Cass Tech? Well, leave it to the Detroit City Council to try and mess around with something that has been so successful for generations. Not that City Councilwoman JoAnn Watson is necessarily messing with the academic success of academic success. She is, however, messing with the tradition of Cass Tech High School – it’s name.
Increasingly, people are going back and applying today’s standards to yesterday’s figures.
From the Detroit News:
A resolution before the Detroit City Council “urging the renaming” of Cass Technical High School because it is named for Lewis Cass, a former Michigan territorial governor. The resolution claims there’s an “inherent dichotomy” in the school that touts “fairness, equality and brotherhood” taking its name from Cass, the architect of the Trail of Tears that killed thousands of Native Americans.
Later, the article says the following:
Councilwoman JoAnn Watson introduced the resolution last week after she said she was approached by some students. A council subcommittee is studying the resolution.
“The young people have agreed to talk with those who are somewhat older,” Watson said. “I believe in a democratic process and to let everyone have access. Nothing has been decided.”
Note to Councilwoman Watson: Quit worrying about something of this nature and messing around with history. Cass may not be my favorite historical figure, but he did help make it possible for the existence of Cass Tech High School. Should the city of Detroit give back the land to the descendants of Lewis Cass?
Let it go. This hardly seems like a good use of the council’s time (there are way more pressing issues with Detroit Public Schools). Also, this whole resolution is disrespectful to history, prestige and far too many people to calculate.
