The Beacon's Opinion

posted Feb 8, 2010 - 9:30:14am

The naming of anything — businesses, rock bands, babies — is potentially explosive. People tend to care deeply, and emotions can run high.

There’s a logical reason for this. Names create first impressions. They last a long time. They speak to many people, and — in the case of a high school — speak for many people.

We’re disappointed by the name chosen for the new Orange City high school.

There is a University High School in Orlando. West Volusia’s new $100 million school deserves a name that won’t be constantly confused with that of another school less than 50 miles away.

The new name forever will require: “University High School in Orange City.”

Why not simply Orange City High School?

Like DeLand High School and Deltona High School, Orange City High School is the common-sense name for the first high school built in that city.

There are other problems with the new moniker. It might indicate that this high school, in Orange City, has more of a relationship with area institutions of higher education than do other Volusia County high schools. Also, it would seem to discount the hopes, aspirations and potential contributions of those students who choose not to, or cannot, attend universities.

Someday, perhaps Orange City will have the same problems Orlando does, and will need nondescript names for its fifth or sixth high school. But, for now, Orange City High School works just fine. In fact, that’s probably what many people will call the school.

Many of those who mailed and e-mailed suggestions for the name agree. Of 36 such suggestions reviewed by The Beacon, 16 were votes for the name “Orange City High School.”

Even the Orange City Council formally endorsed that name.

We’re not sure exactly how many suggestions there were for naming the new school. Those 36 were provided in response to a public-records request by The Beacon for all the names submitted in writing. However, one of the e-mails we reviewed indicates names were collected in suggestion boxes at a school gathering. Those suggestions, if any, were not shown to us.

So, our information is not complete. We can tell you, however, that among the name suggestions we were able to review, not a single one was a vote for “University High School.”

There were only two references to that name in the records we reviewed. One appeared to be a dismissal of the suggestion. It mentioned there already is a University High School.

The other reference was in undated handwritten minutes of a meeting, apparently of the cadre of teachers who will work at the new Orange City high school under Principal Dennis Neal.

The minutes indicate that at 4:18 p.m. discussion was opened “about name of school and mascot ... University H/S Home of the Titans.”

The next line is marked 4:50 p.m. It says “name decides.” The School Board ratified the decision at its Jan. 26 meeting.

We don’t know where this name came from. We don’t think it was the popular choice. We know it wasn’t the sensible one.

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