Central Junior High School changed names to Benjamin Franklin Junior High School in January 1961. This post-1938 image with an unknown man shows a glimpse of the school’s facade.
This article originally appeared on the front page of The Vidette-Messenger on January 13, 1961.
By Rollie Bernhart
Thomas Jefferson Junior High School will be the name of Valparaiso Community School’s new educational facility to be constructed in the northeast part of the city at Glendale and Roosevelt Road.
Name of the third President of the United States was officially approved by members of the school board at its monthly business meeting Thursday evening (January 12, 1961), on basis of final preference submitted by a citizen’s sub-committee.
At the same time, the board also approved changing the name of the present junior high school from Central to Benjamin Franklin Junior High School.
Benjamin Franklin was selected as name for the present junior high school by a committee from the school’s student council. Chairman Laurie Lingberg submitted a report to the board naming Franklin, James Whitcomb Riley, and John Dewey, with preference in favor of the famous scientist and statesman of early American history.
Superintendent G. Warren Phillips was authorized to proceed with installing newly-selected identification on front of the present junior high school building.
Extending Thanks
Board members also voted to send letters of thanks to committees responsible for eventual selection of approved school names.
Members of citizens name study group, who spent many months considering a suitable name for the new junior high school, were Melvin G. Meyers, chairman; Vince Anderson, Charles Anderson, Michael Doshan, Mrs. Eugene Myers, and Principal James Trost.
In explaining reasons for final consideration of two names selected, Trost today submitted thumbnail biographical sketches which influenced the two committees:
Jefferson, third president of the United States, was the writer of the Declaration of Independence and Father of American Democracy. He founded the University of Virginia, first public university in America. He was thus credited with actually being the founder of the nation’s public school system.
Jefferson had a varied public career, but was a strict adherent to principles of religious freedom and freedom of the press. He believed that laws should be made by the people who have to obey them.
To the masses today, Jefferson is known for the Louisiana Purchase during his tenure as President from 1801-1809, which doubled the size of the country; the Lewis-Clark expedition, and trial of Aaron Burr.
2 Franklin Reasons
Author, architect, educator, farmer, Jefferson and George Washington were two Americans of the era most widely known and respected throughout the world, it was noted.
The name of Benjamin Franklin was selected by the student council for two reasons: he was a great American educator, scientist, and statesman; secondly, the locale of the school on North Franklin Street.
Franklin is credited with being American’s first community planner. He was also a scientist of note, and his experimentations with electricity are still a part of our scientific knowledge today.
The first American to become famous in Europe, Franklin also was a founder of the academy, a forerunner of our secondary schools. He did some significant experimenting in curriculum by deviating from such general courses as Latin and English, to practical courses for boys and girls in science and homemaking.