Residents Push For Harriet Tubman As New Name For Second Bethesda Middle School

KENSINGTON, MD — A petition created by a Bethesda resident on Change.org that encourages the Montgomery County Board of Education to name the second Bethesda Chevy Chase Middle School after Harriet Tubman has garnered over 680 signatures as of March 20.

The second Bethesda-Chevy Chase Middle School being built to relieve crowding at Westland Middle School is currently under construction on Saul Road in Kensington. Montgomery County Public Schools chose four potential names for the school: Kensington, Silver Creek, Harriet Tubman and Dr. Paul L. Vance, who was a former Montgomery County school superintendent who died at the age of 83 in 2015.

"The name we choose for this school will send a powerful message to our children," the creator of the petition, Joe Zogby, told Patch. "It's more important now that ever that our children have role models of all races, religions, genders and backgrounds. It's important that all children — including girls, children of color, and white boys like my sons — see an African-American woman like Harriet Tubman as an American hero."

Zogby has three sons in the Bethesda public school system. His oldest son will be in the middle school's first class, and his two younger sons will go to the school in a few years.

>> See Related: Harriet Tubman Possible Name For New Bethesda Middle School

"My three sons inspired me to create this petition. They were very excited when they heard that Harriet Tubman was included in the list of possible names for the middle school," Zogby said. "They read 'The Underground Abductor', an excellent graphic novel about Harriet Tubman, and ever since then they have loved her."

Zogby said the diversity of Montgomery County is one reason that he and his wife chose to raise their family in the area. He said their children have greatly benefited from the diversity, but he believes the county needs to do a better job reflecting this diversity in the public institutions.

Although Montgomery County is 19 percent African American, only one of the 46 schools named for individuals is named for an African-American woman, Zogby said.

"This is also a critical opportunity to educate our children about the history of slavery and emancipation in our nation, state, county, and for them to learn how this history still resonates powerfully in our society today," Zogby said. "I grew up in this area and yet didn't know much about Montgomery County's deep reliance on slavery, or its important role in the abolitionist movement, until I launched this petition drive," Zogby said.

Zogby said the response to the petition, which was recently endorsed by Somerset Mayor Jeffrey Slavin, has been universally positive. He hasn't received a single negative comment.

Some residents have left comments on the petition page, stating "This seems like a no-brainer and a chance to make up for neglect done to Maryland's black and slave women, and "She's an American Hero and a true inspiration."

>> What do you think should be the name of the new middle school? Let us know in the comment section.

The Board of Education is scheduled to vote on the new name March 30.

Photo: Ohio History Connection, dated circa 1887 by H.G. Smith, Studio Building, Boston.