Dislikes Change
Of School Name

Recently, in The Herald, I read of the Bethel School Board’s desire to better market our school to other towns. They want to eliminate the word "Bethel" from the elementary school, in hopes to welcome other towns’ elementary school children, in the event their schools are no longer viable. The School Board asked for feedback from the community regarding changing the name of the school system.

I was surprised to hear that Bethel's School Board has decided to change Whitcomb's name to Albert Whitcomb School, (AWS), to encompass the whole school as one, blending the elementary with the high school.

Apparently, there was no feedback from the community to the School Board’s request regarding the name change. Therefore, the Board thought not one person showed concern over the change, and proposed to change WHS to AWS.

As a former two-term Bethel School Board member, who is an alumnus, I certainly understand the intense need to market our school, the need to increase our ever-declining enrollment. I also understand the tasks of the school board and their desire to better our school in many different aspects.

If taking "Bethel" out of the name is going to be a beneficial selling point, I am all for it, but why change the whole school system’s identity? It is an identity that we as a community have worked so hard to develop.

Why not have a name of Whitcomb Elementary School under the umbrella of Whitcomb Elementary Jr./Sr. High School?

I graduated from WHS and have been a part of our school over the years. I cringe at the thought of losing what has historically been a large part of all of our lives in Bethel. We should be taking the effort to continue to grow and look to the future with what we have already, not throw out a tradition that is extremely important.

When I sit in the gym and look up at all the sports banners WHS students have won I see "State Champs 1980" and my pride and emotions rise up remembering the wonder of my WHS experience, an experience my two children hold also.

In a world where we have to give up so many treasures before their time, let’s remember that WHS is a family, town and a personal treasure; let’s keep it that way.

Charri Robinson, WHS ‘80

Bethel