Why Do Parents Want the Name of This Waterville, Maine School Changed?

For more than 100 years, we have been naming our schools after important people with ties to our communities.  We have seen schools named after civil rights leaders, politicians, and even top-tier athletes.

In some cases, we have seen these schools renamed when it has become clear that these people were not the heroes that we originally thought them to be.

This has happened with Democratic Maine Senator George Mitchell.

According to an article on the WABI website, some parents are outraged over Mitchell being named in the Epstein Files.

The article explains that Larkin Silverman, the parent of a kindergartener at George Mitchell Elementary, said the school should change its name because even if George Mitchell did not commit any crimes himself, he was still willing to overlook someone who went on to commit acts of abuse against a child.

According to Silverman, simply having Mitchell’s name appear in documents connected to a convicted sex offender should be enough reason to remove it from the school. Silverman said that while Mitchell’s legacy as a U.S. senator from Maine is significant, she feels disappointed by his association with the case.

Silverman added that two things can be true at the same time: a person can accomplish great things while also overlooking disturbing truths about others.

Last week, Mitchell resigned from the Mitchell Institute in Portland, which he founded, and his name was removed from a scholarship through the U.S.-Ireland Alliance.

It is important to note that Mitchell has not been charged with or convicted of any crimes, but court documents show he communicated with Jeffrey Epstein between 2010 and 2013.

A spokesman for Mitchell said the former senator never observed, suspected, or had any knowledge of Epstein engaging in illegal or inappropriate conduct with underage women.

What are your thoughts on this?  Should the name be changed?  Let us know your thoughts by sending us a message using our app.