The top-performing Long Island School District is fighting over a proposal to change the name of the primary school for that supervisor, knowing that “living white” guys shouldn't “eliminate” native history.
At a January school board meeting, PTA Council President Aileen Gingold proposed renaming Jericho's Cantiagh Elementary School for Coach Henry Glischman, who has been playing a role in one of the nation's top performance districts since 1995.
“By changing the name of this school, we ensure that future generations of students, parents and educators will remind us of the leadership that has made the district a success today.”
“Cantiague” is a term likely used by native Americans who speak Algonquin to describe the land.
“Changing the name of Cantiague primary school will erase Indigenous history in support of honoring the living white supervision,” said one parent who signed. Online petition Those who drive this change may not recognize their bias, but ignorance is not an excuse. ”
Long Island's Native American roots are evident in many of the town's names, including Massapequa, Montauk, and Shinnecock. This “provides valuable opportunities for education and cultural understanding,” according to Jericho Boyce, an anonymous parent blog born in the controversy, as “the voice of parents of Jericho Union Union Free School Distrix.”
The group did not respond to inquiries from the post.
Glischman is still alive and actively employed in the district, so he says the proposal is premature and unprecedented.
“The fundamental issue of proposing to name school facilities after the currently employed superintendent generates inherent ethical concerns and questions about proper governance,” the petition states. “We need to maintain a clear separation from active services to ensure that such decisions are based on proven long-term impacts, not on their current location.”
Others denounced the school board's “dolls” behind the movement.
A recent budget meeting included a slideshow from the assistant director, with a cover page featuring Grishman, edited on the film poster for The Greatest Showman, which reads “The Greatest Grishman.”
“This is not a joke or a meme,” Jericho Boyce wrote in the post. “This is the official opening slide for a taxpayer-funded budget meeting and was created by Victor Manuel, vice principal of business affairs.”
“Budget meetings are not a place of personal respect,” he added.
Grishman, who first became director in 1978 before he began with Jericho, earns $368,000 a year in the district.
Board Chairman Christopher Forest He told Long Island Press The board will continue to collect community feedback and be discussed at future meetings, including the board meeting, which will be held on March 20th.
