Good, bad vibrations Judging by first reactions, two school-name changes aren't getting much support. Decisions can't always be based on popularity. However, these cases might be the time to listen to what's being said. We refer to the debate over whether to keep the name Meyer Middle School and whether to change the name Cemetery Road to Jefferson Street. When it comes to names, popular sentiment counts.
Names are symbolic.
Today's trend is to sell names to the highest bidder. Before this tasteless promotion, names had geographic, historic and personal meanings. In River Falls, the middle school was named after longtime educator DeWayne Meyer upon his retirement in 1992. Cemetery Road's history reaches back much farther to 1891 when the St. Bridget Church cemetery was established. There are more important issues calling for attention from our school board and city council.