LETTER TO THE EDITOR
This letter appeared in the Advocate (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) on 24 August 2007.
This item may be cited as M. R. Franks, Letter to the Editor: Preserve Baton Rouge Magnet High, Baton Rouge Advocate, August 24, 2007, at 6B.
Copyright © 2007, M. R. Franks
Dear Editor:
Recently I received a phone call from my adult daughters, both of whom now live in London. News of the possible demolition of Baton Rouge Magnet High School apparently reached England. My daughters attended Baton Rouge Magnet High School. The night they called, one was outraged and the other in tears.
The next day, I contacted the principal of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, Ms. Nanette Greer. She informed me that the building has serious problems and that the fate of the building is in the hands of a committee. The options apparently are to remodel the existing building or demolish it altogether and rebuild.
Baton Rouge High School has for nearly 80 years been the jewel in the educational crown of our parish school system. With an architectural brilliance no longer seen in newer schools, this august building holds its slot on the National Register of Historic Places as a building worthy of preservation.
This institution also houses the memories of thousands of this parish's most influential citizens. The destruction of this embodiment of the best education we have to offer would be tragic. Any option of demolishing Baton Rouge Magnet High School must be rejected.
Surely if there are funds to build a brand-new facility, there are funds to repair and preserve an important piece of our history. Why can't we, with all our latest advancements and fancy technology, do our utmost to hold on to our tangible memories?
If the committee recommends destruction, it will be interpreted by the people as animosity toward excellence. With our School Board's present repute for educational mediocrity, such blatant contempt for a symbol of what little excellence remains in the system would be unwise.
M. R. Franks
professor of law
Baton Rouge
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