As you can see, a citizen showed up to protest the naming, and explained quite nicely why using Cavalier is not a good idea. He gave the history of the term and it’s meaning to the English and King Charles the 1st. Not only were Cavaliers English and from a different time period of the revolutionary war, it goes in the face of what Thomas Jefferson and our founding fathers stood for. That’s why when I was researching the mascot I rejected using Cavalier and Renegade instead.
What makes this even more troubling and ironic is that school districts across the state said that they didn’t think graduating seniors should have to take a civics/citizenship test because civics were taught throughout K-12. Really? Didn’t anyone in administration or the teacher faculty have the common sense to tell the students that ‘Cavalier’ was probably inappropriate due to it’s ties to the British and they should come up with another mascot? If we are teaching civics, wouldn’t these students, teachers and administrators know enough not to use ‘cavalier’ as a mascot for a school named after a revolutionary man?
From the very first task force meeting, to the bond elections (counted by district finance employees) to the purchase of the land and hiring of architects, this entire process has been a sh*t show of the highest level, it shouldn’t surprise us that they continue to ignore reason. This is what happens when governmental decisions are made behind closed doors by a select group of ‘Know-It-Alls.’
This is why they had to hire a former shoe salesperson as an administrator to manage a whopping 24 students at the Avera Academy. The more ‘Know-It-Alls’ the better education our kids are getting, yeah right.
keep sucking on the government teet shantel.
That’s just it, who is paying Krebs? Avera? SFSD? Board of Regents? Who knows.
Thomas Jefferson opposed slavery. He kept slaves because he had to in order to compete with other farmers and blend with the white establishment. His slaves had their own little city behind Monticello with their own Main Street and shops. When offered freedom they declined because their quality of life was their choice. Jefferson fathered 3 children with an African American woman who lived with him most of his life. He couldn’t marry her. Parts of the Declaration of Independence Jefferson authored were edited because there was inference toward abolishing slavery. When the country was in trouble, Jefferson was enlisted. He got help from France for the Revolutionary War and negotiated the Louisiana Purchase. His federal involvement was not compensated. His slaves kept the farm going until it couldn’t be saved. Jefferson died on July 4th impoverished but on the same day as his good friend John Adams.
Sorry, this is a forefather I respect and will defend.
Where is civics taught here in k-12? My son, who LOVES history, Govt, and politics, has been dying for real classes on these since we moved her almost 3 years ago. Previous states we have lived in he had to take Govt class, American history, AND world history classes even in elementary, for the full school year. But here, even starting middle school, have yet to have anything here on those subjects. Do they wait until high school or only here?
The University of Virginia – founded by Thomas Jefferson himself, has as its mascot – the Cavalier. Again, just sayin’.
Ruf, yes, we know. The student study group admitted that is where they got the mascot idea, which I found to be a little lazy.
Erica, between going to HS in SD and in Washington State, I had American History, World History, Civics, Current Events and ‘Govt’ class. And we talked current events and government in College prep English also. I also had SD history classes and Washington State history classes as well as a couple of weeks of art history in ARTS 1 Class. You are right, not sure what is being taught anymore.
Perhaps in the UK, there is a high school known as the Churchill Blitzkriegers.
l3wis, but why are they waiting until HS here to have kids in these subjects? Really behind the curve compared to many other places who are indoctrinating…I mean “educating” kids in those subjects much sooner than high school. Same with foreign languages here.
VSG – I believe that English school would be the Chamberlain Appeasers. BUT – European schools don’t have athletic teams – or mascots of any kind. And, mostly they are only known by their numbers – not named after anyone at all.
Erica – it is especially troubling when you consider that the other US states’ schools, which may be advanced vs. SD, are FAR behind schools in a LOT of other countries in the world. The sister of a friend in Ecuador is an elementary school teacher and she is as we speak teaching her 4th grade class about quadradic equations.