Mercer Co. District Drops Columbus, Woodrow Wilson Names From Schools

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Trenton Public Schools will remove the names of Christopher Columbus and Woodrow Wilson from two district schools, the Board of Education announced.

The Trenton BOE voted unanimously for the name change. The schools will now be named after two Trentonians who dedicate themselves to the community.

Columbus Elementary School will now be known as Dr. Crosby Copeland Jr. Elementary School and Wilson Elementary School will be renamed Darlene C. McKnight Elementary School.

The name change is effective July 1, the district said.

Ahead of the vote, a public forum was held in March where community members were invited to submit their recommendations.

Copeland and McKnight’s names were chosen from over 60 entries.

“Both Dr. Crosby Copeland Jr. and Darlene C. McKnight have extended themselves above and beyond for Trenton Public Schools and the City of Trenton,” the district said.

Copeland was born and raised in Trenton and attended Trenton Public Schools. He served in the army before beginning his teaching career. He served as superintendent of Trenton Public Schools for eight years.

“He was recognized statewide for presenting public testimony to local, state, and national educational groups, commissions, and legislative committees regarding issues related to urban education; equity of resources, funding, students at risk, and drop-out prevention,” the district said. He died in 2021.

McKnight was a well-known activist who lived in Trenton for 55 years. She worked extensively in the community with numerous agencies and advocacy groups. McKnight was also a parent liaison at TPS. She died on March 14, this year.

“She fought to have advocacy training for parents/guardians as partners to improve the educational and social success of their children in school. McKnight was an affiliate of many community partnerships and received many awards/honors from those in the community who respected and admired her,” the district said.

Trenton is the latest to join a growing number of school districts and educational institutions to rename schools.

In 2020, Princeton University removed Wilson's name from the School of Public and International Affairs and residential college citing his "racist thinking and policies." Read More: Princeton To Rename Residential College After A Black Woman

Princeton Public Schools removed John Witherspoon’s name from the middle school in 2020, after a high school graduate created a petition to rename the school due to Witherspoon's history of owning slaves.

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