Harms Elementary School

[sw_kid]

Detroit Public School is considering changing the name of Harms School on Central Avenue in southwest Detroit in order to better reflect the current Hispanic population of southwest Detroit.

The school is named for Theodore Harms who was a German immigrant businessman and the Superintendent of the Delray Board of Education in the early 1900’s. His son William became the Superintendent after Theodore and got the approval from the Detroit Public School Board of Education to name the school in order to honor his father in 1915.

This is nonsense. A name change is NOT necessary. DPS should respect and celebrate our local history. The Harms family were not controversial and by the way, immigrants themselves.

Shame on DPS for considering this frivolous change.

[Zacha341]

Hmm... what is the proposed name? Link....?

[Meddle]

Does anybody really know what name it is?

Does anybody really care ... about names?

Personally I don't think any public facility or place should be named after any person, living or dead. Why? Just exactly because of this. Somebody somewhere will end up getting flusterated over it, no matter what.

Had it just been originally named Delray Elementary, or SW Elementary ....

[jcole]

Does anybody really know what name it is?

Does anybody really care ... about names?

Personally I don't think any public facility or place should be named after any person, living or dead. Why? Just exactly because of this. Somebody somewhere will end up getting flusterated over it, no matter what.

Had it just been originally named Delray Elementary, or SW Elementary ....

HOW many "Detroit Elementary"s would that make?

[Zacha341]

Does anybody really know what name it is?

Does anybody really care ... about names?.....

Hah! So, in keeping with that sentiment lets just go with PS Elementary 41, PS HS 42, etc.!!

[renf]

Is there an objection to the Canadien government using Gordie Howe's name for the new bridge they are building into the Springwells neighborhood?

[Honky Tonk]

Is there an objection to the Canadien government using Gordie Howe's name for the new bridge they are building into the Springwells neighborhood?

No, THAT'S sports! WHOO, WHOO, WHOO, GO TEAM!!!! Let's have more beer...

[Meddle]

^^^ Works for NYC and they're the greatest city in history that everyone should emulate right? Or so I hear. Never been there. Never will be.


Seriously though, just use more geographical or regional names. And yes, I oppose the bridge name which should be something far more generic.

[Zacha341]

^^^ Indeed... it was just a joke...... I for one, am not pushing NYC. Hah.

[sw_kid]

proposed names are:

Benito Juarez
Victoria Soto
Diego Rivera

[Bham1982]

They should name it Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Elementary and watch millions of Cultists' heads simultaneously explode.

Though, seriously, I have no problem with the proposal. This is now a Mexican neighborhood and nothing wrong with naming a school with something more relevant [[i.e. Mexican or Mexican American person of note). Diego Rivera Elementary sounds great.

[dtowncitylover]

proposed names are:

Benito Juarez
Victoria Soto
Diego Rivera

I like any of them. Diego Rivera and Victoria Soto seem the most fitting.

Victoria Soto was one of the teachers killed at Sandy Hook. What an honor that would be!

[archfan]

proposed names are:

Benito Juarez
Victoria Soto
Diego Rivera

While the other two may be inspiring, I like Diego Rivera for the local connection. Of course, his politics would make more heads explode than if they picked AOC.

Not that anyone will [[or should) ask me.

[weezyandme]

Actually there is a typo in the uncontrolled survey so if option one is the lead the school will be named for BenitA Jaurez!!! Thes people are clueless and need to leave things alone. That is why it is called history, learn it and embrace it, don't erase it. Theodore Harms was the first superintendent ever of the Delray Schools which became the Detroit Public Schools. Those kids and their parents should be honored and proud to have the privilege of attending school at an icon of Detroit history. That school has served students nonstop since 1917. Many cultures, ethnicities and races have paced through that school and neighborhood including Latino people before and no one disrespected the history of Harms ever until this loser principal Mr. Cruz came to town. He is spearheading this and needs to be removed. The test scores have faltered in his charge, enrollment is down, attendance is down. He is the name that needs to be changed to a new Principal not a new school name.

[weezyandme]

Kimy L. Gibson
Sacramento, Ca 95815

March 18, 2019

Open Letter to the Board of Education of the Detroit Public Schools, Iris Taylor, Ph.D., Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, Misha Stallworth, Deborah Hunter-Harvill, Ed.D., Georgia Lemmons, Bishop Corletta J. Vaughn, Sonya Mays, Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, Deputy Superintendent Iranetta Wright, Principal Lead Leenet Campbell-Williams, and Principal of Harms Elementary School, Mauro Cruz

After watching the meeting today and then seeing the news clip all the way out in California, I felt the need to reach out to you once again. I unfortunately assumed that being you either sit on the Board of Education or are a member of the cabinet or a Principal of a school in the Detroit Public School System that you would have taken the time to know who Theodore Harms was. I therefore started with who he was as a community member rather than his history of Education. Now that I have watched the meeting and listened to people’s comments including school district employees who should be aware of the entire history of something so important, let me explain it a little further to you.


Here is where it began. William T. Harms was on the Delray Board of Education and made a motion to name the school after his father, Theodore Harms who was the prior superintendent of the Delray Schools. The motion passed and history began for Harms Elementary School.
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Harms School in Southwest Detroit

Designed in 1915 by Wirt Rowland while with the firm of Malcomson & Higginbotham; the school was opened in March of 1917.

Harms was the last of six "standard intermediate schools" designed by Rowland, all based on the same floor plan. Of those, Harms and Thirkell are the only two remaining in service.

The school opened with 500 students, most of whom came from overcrowded Bennett School, built a few years earlier and just a half mile away.

Theodore Harms was a German immigrant who moved to Southwest Detroit [[then known as Springwells Township) in 1870. He opened a hardware store on the corner of Fort Street and Springwells Avenue and was later elected to the School Board.

Our cultural differences are what made not only Detroit but America. We are a melting pot and that is how we all got here at one point or another. History is to be researched and taught, NOT rewritten. If the school had closed as Woodrow Wilson Jr. High School did and then reopened I could understand but this school has had its doors open every day from day one and does not need to be anything but what it is and that is THEODORE HARMS SCHOOL

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Mr. Harms was an individual dedicated to education. He instilled those same values in his children. He believed all children deserved a quality education and became a member of the school board to ensure they got it. His son followed in his father’s footsteps. This was an immigrant who came to America for what it has to offer. He seized the wonderful things it had to offer to him and his family. He worked to fit in and be part of the new community he had chosen to live in. When a new school was built it was named in his honor for his accomplishments and contributions to his community. This is the history of Theodore Harms School.

Since this time the demographics of the community the school serves have changed many times over. With each change, there were adjustments to be made not only by those entering the community but by those who had been there their entire life. That is what you do when you are a community. You band together, you do not come in and try to change or divide. A community has something you like that drew you there in the first place. Theodore Harms School was one of those things. No other heritage, ethnicity or culture has ever asked to change the name of this school or made false claims as Mr. Cruz has as to the name being offensive or meaning something else in a different language. It IS NOT in a different language. It is English in America. Learn it and embrace it. It is the language of the country with so much to offer you chose to live here, please remember that.

To come in to a community and try to change its history is disrespectful. A school Principal spearheading this effort is disrespectful. If you are not proud of where you work maybe you belong elsewhere. Mrs. Erma Laird Colding taught in that very school for 50 years in the same classroom. Why you might ask? Because she was proud to be part of Harms school and our community. She was African American. She never even thought of changing the school name to the name of another African American. She was proud to work at Harms, she loved Harms and its students and parents. She loved the Harms family. She knew them, and respected them. If there was ever someone who deserved their name on a Detroit School for all she offered generations of families it would be Mrs. Erma Laird Colding. Did you see the community start an effort to strip Theodore Harms name from the building to name it for her? NO you did not. There is plaque outside her room to honor her dedicated with love from her students and the community.

Maybe the students, their parents and some staff like Mr. Cruz and the Board of Education should be educated on the history of Theodore Harms Elementary school a little better before they chose to disrespect all who came before them. You leave a legacy behind you, you do not take someone else’s.

Had the information about this plan and the meetings been shared community wide rather than kept to the small controlled group it was, you would of known you were going down the wrong path. Had the school of ever been closed and then reopened a name change would possibly be acceptable and Mrs. Erma Laird Colding would be the only choice. This school was not built by Hispanics. The name is not spoken in Spanish, it is English. It should be accepted by them the same way all other groups have over the decades. Be proud of the school your children attend and teach them to be proud as well.

The alumni and community past and present who are part of the Harms legacy are politely asking that you stop this process and start a new one. You teach the history of Theodore Harms Elementary. You teach that history is built not rewritten. You teach acceptance and appreciation. You teach respect for those who have worked so hard before you so that you can be offered all that you are in life. But most importantly, when you are a leader, you educate yourself. Be proactive instead of reactive. Everyone involved in this matter should have done their homework and knew what they were talking about before they ever even thought about opening their mouths.

Has anyone noticed the dedication at the bottom of the flagpole in front of the school? Did anyone ever wonder why it is for Mr. Fred Harms? Did any of you know for decades he walked to that school from his home with the school children to watch them raise the US Flag each and every morning and retuned each afternoon to watch it be retired? Did anyone know he taught each and every child the proper respect for the US Flag himself? Did any of you know he would teach each new group of students how to properly unfold the flag to place it on the pole and raise it quickly with pride and how you lower it each day very slowly with respect? Probably not. We placed our names in a drawing to be able to be on flag duty for a week with Mr. Fred Harms. He taught us all about proper respect for the flag of our country that was proudly flown in front of a school named for his father because of all he did for that community in his time. That is why the dedication is to Mr. Fred Harms. Now you have been educated.

There are so many more wonderful things I could educate you about Theodore Harms School and the man it was named for and the wonderful family he had. Descendants of Theodore Harms were at the 100 year anniversary celebration, did anyone reach out to them with this idea? I have spoken to them and the answer is no. They are devastated.

In closing, I have offered for any of you to contact me directly. You have my email and my number is . Feel free to reach out and I will tell you anything you want to know about my school. It is a legacy that was left for us to respect and be proud of. Try doing the same while you build your own instead of laying claim to someone else’s.



Respectfully submitted,



Kimy L. Gibson
Proud Alumni of Theodore Harms School
And Southwest Detroit

[Zacha341]

^^^ Including the cultists for AOC as well LOL!

Whew! I mean I've heard of folks ascending lightening fast but goodness.

A school too? ----!

[Wesley Mouch]

Seems like a mistake. German immigrants have done quite well in the USA and are completely assimilated into their adopted country. Seems like a great lesson for newer immigrants.

Is the idea that today's Hispanic youth can't learn from considering the accomplishments of someone who's not Hispanic? That makes no sense at all.

What makes DPS want to do this? They might instead consider a brochure or book celebrating the Harms and holding them up as role models.

[Bham1982]

Seems like a mistake. German immigrants have done quite well in the USA and are completely assimilated into their adopted country. Seems like a great lesson for newer immigrants.

Actually, German immigrants assimilated much slower than Mexican immigrants and were hated by much of mainstream America as too foreign. They were taught in German in most public schools in most German-heavy parts of the U.S. until WW2. It looks like yesterday's immigrants need a lesson from the immigrants of today.

Ever heard Lawrence Welk? He's American born, son of immigrants, but sounds straight out of Heidelberg because his American public schools taught in German [[until anti-German sentiment during WWII ended such practices).

Is the idea that today's Hispanic youth can't learn from considering the accomplishments of someone who's not Hispanic? That makes no sense at all.

Using that [[non) logic I guess yesterday's German folks couldn't learn from others who weren't German. Those libtard snowflakes needed German-named schools. What bad hombres, likely murderers and rapists! Sad! Too bad there wasn't a "big, beautiful wall" across the Atlantic keeping them out!

[Gistok]

Many years ago I went to Finney Jr./Sr. High School [[when it was still mostly white students)... and we never even knew who Jared W. Finney even was... now that is no longer a problem, since the school has been demolished and the rebuild is no longer named for him.

Some schools are named for now obscure people... let them rename them... Cobo Hall is soon to be renamed... but for other reasons than obscurity. Some suburban schools are named for former school district superintendents... another good reason for a rename.

And yeah Bham1982... shame on them for renaming Germantown to Greektown!! Also... even today German is the 2nd most spoken language in North Dakota... where Lawrence Welk is from. Similar to Minnesota and the Scandinavian's....

[Meddle]

Or the Yoopers. Nobody really knows what language they speak.

[jcole]

Does anyone really think any kid really cares who their elementary school is named for? I went to Burbank and I THINK it was named for Luther Burbank, but back then I didn't care if it was named for Burbank, CA.
There wasn't like a point of pride between schools. "My botanist can beat up your artist"

[Danny]

When Black folks took over DPS they name each school building after famous African American heroines.

For example George Custer Elementary was changed to Thurgood Marshall School.

2. Haley Magnet Middle School was changed to Paul Roberson and Malcolm X Academy.

3. Then you have Martin Luther King High School

4. Mary Bethune Academy

5. Phillip Randolph School

6. Coleman A. Young Elementary

And many more.


So if DPS want to change Harms Elementary to Gael García Bernal Academy or any Hispanic famous heroines they more than welcome. It's their call.



By the Way. When White Folks were running DPS, long ago They have their schools named famous and racist heroes!!!

[Wesley Mouch]

When Black folks took over DPS they name each school building after famous African American heroines.

For example George Custer Elementary was changed to Thurgood Marshall School.

2. Haley Magnet Middle School was changed to Paul Roberson and Malcolm X Academy.

3. Then you have Martin Luther King High School

4. Mary Bethune Academy

5. Phillip Randolph School

6. Coleman A. Young Elementary

And many more.

So if DPS want to change Harms Elementary to Gael García Bernal Academy or any Hispanic famous heroines they more than welcome. It's their call.

By the Way. When White Folks were running DPS, long ago They have their schools named famous and racist heroes!!!

Danny, I pretty much agree with you. Its their call.

That doesn't make it a wise decision.

When 'Black folks too over' DPS, the decision to rename appeared to my lily white dupa to be mostly driven by Black Pride.

Today, in this decision, its hard not to see this as political. Maybe that's my failing.

When something new is built, by all means choose a name that reflects the best of the community of the creators. Renaming existing buildings because you think it helps the kids is a mistake. Building naming isn't a 'prize'. Renaming isn't a success. Its selfish. Its doesn't broaden horizons. its inward looking. Better to look to celebrate people of quality. Choosing names because they 'reflect the community' is lazy. Hispanic students can learn a lot from the legacy of Coleman A. Young. It would be a shame to see CAY's name removed because the new Hmong population of the east side thinks Hmong Pride is valuable.

Thanks, Danny, for making me think a bit more on this.

[poobert]

Detroit Public School is considering changing the name of Harms School on Central Avenue in southwest Detroit in order to better reflect the current Hispanic population of southwest Detroit.

The school is named for Theodore Harms who was a German immigrant businessman and the Superintendent of the Delray Board of Education in the early 1900’s. His son William became the Superintendent after Theodore and got the approval from the Detroit Public School Board of Education to name the school in order to honor his father in 1915.

This is nonsense. A name change is NOT necessary. DPS should respect and celebrate our local history. The Harms family were not controversial and by the way, immigrants themselves.

Shame on DPS for considering this frivolous change.

Frivolous indeed. It isn't the worst idea in the world, but...why, really?

What no one has mentioned is that this will cost money. Signage, collateral, branding design. Money not spent educating students but playing to politics.

Will this name change result in one more student being better educated? I suppose if they're motivated by the name, but as many here mentioned, that doesn't usually come into play.

It is important to retain, even subconsciously, who we are and where we came from, and that our places have meaning. 19th century white judges no longer populate the Woodward corridor [[in Detroit, anyway - I'd venture that some 19th century white judges might still live along the Woodward corridor in Oakland County) but it is still an important piece of our shared history. Harms is an obscure example but still part of our history.

[Zacha341]

Interesting subject for sure. Not all black schools names were CHANGED to honor important black figures. Some were started so named. For example the DPS Career Techs name in honor of Randolph, Cornelius Golightly, Crockett etc.