This is causing a lot of uproar in suburban Philly today. A few weeks ago when this gift of $25 million was announced, people were talking about how generous this alum was. Now it is disclosed that he is requiring the high school to change its name to Abington Schwarzman High School.
People are not happy with the naming rights being “sold to the highest bidder” and with the way the school board arranged and communicated this. I find it distasteful that someone needs to have his name on a public school as a condition of a “gift.” They already named the recently built stadium after him.
Although I’ve never heard of naming rights at a public school (it would not be allowed here), I am not against naming rights, in general. Would people rather that the school not get $25 million?
They are changing the name from “Abington” to “Abington Schwarzman.” So they are just tacking on his name to the original name. I think it’s great. For 25 million, I’d change MY name to “Schwarzman” – or “Santa Claus,” or “Stupid Idiot,” or anything the donor asked. Heck, I’d do it for half a million. I’m cheap like that.
I would rather the donor just give the money, maybe even direct it’s use. This seems like self aggrandizement:(. But then many college department programs are named after donors. I just don’t get why the donor requires it. Put up a statue to him if you must. But your school’s name is kind of sacred. I’d be upset if they changed ours, period, but especially for $.
If changing the name of a public school brings in $25 million for a school system that is struggling like Philadelphia’s, I’d say take the $$$ and run. This is not to say that money can make everything better, but it can help alot. Big time donors often want naming rights–think of all the institutions named after major donors in higher education, e,g, Tisch Library at Tufts, The Arthur M. Sackler Museum at Harvard, or the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago.
But that’s my point - they didn’t rename the actual institution, just a wing or a branch of it. People in Abington assumed the school would name a science wing or STEM program etc after him. But to change the name of a tax-payer supported institution is irritating a lot of people.
I think people are also not happy with the way the school board handled it, it was not transparent apparently, no time for public comment. I’m also not happy about that.
And this school district is not struggling. Well, not any more than any other. It is a well-regarded system with a diverse population and large tax base. The high school building does need updating for sure and the tax payers will be on the hook for 75% of those costs - this $25 mil is a small part of that.
I have no issue with this. They are not entirely renaming, just adding. The school will still be called Abington (and I am going to guess no one is suddenly going to be saying “I attend Abington- Schwarzman” that is a mouth full!) The school already uses the abbreviated ASHS (not clear on why it is already ASHS) so that doesn’t change either.
Yeah, it is a bit egotistical, in an ideal world you would give the money without feeling compelled to tie your name to it. but, when people age they, and their families, often feel a desperate need to leave a tangible legacy. That is human nature. Unfortunately most people don’t even know why a building is named something, they just assume it is because someone had a lot of money. I think I would rather be remembered for my actual accomplishments and not my money! When was the last time you stopped and looked up why Jones Hall is named Jones Hall and what it is that made Jesse Jones worthy of having a Hall named after him?
I just paid $50 to get my kids’ names added to a brick in the new performing arts center at our local high school. @Consolation! That’s the extent of my giving…
If the person is known for philanthropy or has done something that greatly benefited the humanity at large (not just the school) - yes. If this is just a trick to immortalize a rich person’s name - no.
You know that iconic New York Public Library with the lions Patience and Fortitude outside? That’s now the Schwarzman building–same guy.
I’m not really a fan of this, but…the condition of the library has improved since he gave his gift. And…I remember Andrew Carnegie. We still talk about “Carnegie libraries” and “Carnegie credits” for high schools. This isn’t anything new, folks.
Universities do this all the time (Tulane, Vanderbilt, Yale) why not a high school? Here’s the thing: One, it’s his money and he has the right to give it conditionally or unconditionally to anyone or any entity he chooses. Two, the school has the right to accept the conditions of the donations or deny the donation. I don’t find it distasteful, I don’t find it a fabulous idea, and I don’t think this is a moral question with an absolute yay or nay response.
Does it really matter what the name is in the grand scheme of things? If no, then take the money. If yes, then decline the offer and allow the man to give his money to a school that will appreciate it for what it is: paying to play.
Universities, medical schools, law schools, schools of business, stadiums, libraries, art museums and many other buildings are named after their benefactors. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
I get that people and corporations buy the right to name stuff all the time. Actually, rich people and organizations buy the right to do just about anything (example: the NRA), but where do you draw the line and say, no, thanks, keep the money and I’ll keep my autonomy? How desperate is this school for 25 million?
They changed the name of my law school (a public school) after a donor gave them the big bucks. I’m not sure Thurgood Marshall was happy about it, but I always thought it was strange that there was a school named after him that he hadn’t been allowed to attend.
I think public schools should take all the money they can if it improves the school. I fear it will be like Monopoly, that the more expensive houses and hotels are on the more expensive properties. A grade school naming might only cost $12 million while a high school $25million. Sponsoring a music teacher much less.