San Francisco Board of Education Unified School District - Abraham Lincoln - Letter by Randall F. More

 

May 4, 2021

 

Office of the Board of Education

San Francisco Board of Education Unified School District (SFUSD)

555 Franklin Street

Room 106

San Francisco, California

U.S.A.

94102

(415) 241-6427

 

ATTENTION: Commissioners – Members of the Board of Education

c/o Ms. Esther V. Casco, Executive Assistant to the Board of Education

(email: cascoe@sfusd.edu)

PLEASE DISTRIBUTE to EACH COMMISSIONER

Your Board has reportedly chosen to rename the “Abraham Lincoln High School” apparently due to President Lincoln’s or his administration’s treatment of Native Americans 160 years ago.

We don’t know the reason for the apparently poor treatment of Native Americans but, is it possible, if you knew that Abraham’s grandfather had been murdered by members of the Shawnee Tribe, leaving Abraham’s father, Thomas, as a six-year-old fatherless boy, that you might have extended more understanding, compassion, and grace regarding Lincoln’s legacy?

Lincoln is considered by many to be amongst the finest Presidents in American history. Wouldn’t it be far better to honor Abraham Lincoln for his selfless contribution to the growing nation, as imperfect as he was, instead of denigrating him by attempting to erase his history and his tremendous contribution? All that we know for sure is that Lincoln was just like the rest of us, far from perfect.

Reportedly, your organization is also considering negating the name of any school, institution, monument, or statue named in honor of Presidents Washington or Jefferson… and other notables. Each and every person in the world, with no exceptions, is a flawed character but that should not diminish the extraordinary contributions that such people have made toward the progress and well-being of the nation and its people.

Please reconsider your earlier decision with respect to each of these Presidents... to instead honor their constructive contributions... and forgive their shortcomings.

Thank you for your consideration.

Yours truly

Randall F. More, P. Eng.

 

cc

Dr. Vincent Matthews, Superintendent of Schools

email: matthewsv@sfusd.edu

 

Board of Supervisors

San Francisco City Hall

1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place

Room 244

Clerk’s Office

San Francisco, California

U.S.A.

94102-4689

email: board.of.supervisors@sfgov.org

(415) 554-5184