Let Collins be Collins

News Virginian
Published: June 21, 2007

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.That cliché can apply to any number of situations, but none more clearly than the suggestion to rename Waynesboro's Kate Collins Middle School.
We're not sure why the School Board even floated this idea, but it should be shot down as quickly as possible.

As local historian K.W. Stanley has documented, Kate Collins was a local educator for more than 50 years who had a major impact on the schools in our city, as well as generations of schoolchildren.

She was a teacher, a principal and even a basketball coach.
The middle school was named after her in 1963, and just because Ms. Collins' accomplishments and contributions to the community have faded from memory is no reason to change that name.

Why lose our sense of history-

Nor is the soon-to-be-completed renovation a reason to change the school's name.

The renovation has been very expensive, costing more than was initially projected.

Why add the additional cost and hassle of a name change as well-

Students will know when they return to school in the fall that they are in a "new" middle school.

The "old" name works just fine.

The School Board should leave it that way.