Aggregated News
District’s schools will include a unit about California and Palo Alto’s role in the eugenics movement
Two Palo Alto middle schools named after leading advocates of eugenics will be renamed by the 2018-19 school year, school board members unanimously decided Friday.
Trustees voted 5-0 to rename Jordan Middle School, which is named after David Starr Jordan, and Terman Middle School, because it is named in part after Lewis Terman.
Trustees asked school district officials to return this spring with a recommendation on the process of renaming the schools.
The board initially considered a recommendation to form an advisory committee that will suggest three new names by Jan. 1. Trustees ultimately decided it was best to have school staff determine if such a timeline is feasible before proceeding.
Board members agreed, however, that the district’s schools must incorporate a unit about California and Palo Alto’s role in the eugenics movement into the history curriculum of secondary schools by next school year.
The board also decided that the cost of renaming the two schools, estimated to be about $60,000, the bulk of which...