Stony Brook School Sixth Graders
Debate School Name Change

Social Studies teacher Sandra Kimball presented the sixth grade students with an opportunity to become involved in town government in an issue directly related to them. A group of veterans in Westford collected signatures to change the new Stony Brook School to Veterans Memorial School. The town of Westford will vote on a warrent article at Special Town Meeting on November 4, 2003. Ms. Kimball, along with Mrs. Joanie Mulroy organized a debate among the sixth graders as to whether the name should be changed or not.

The League's Ellen Harde addressed the students and spoke to them about how articles are included on the town warrent, how the town meeting is run, the voting process, and how students can become informed citizens. Veterans also addressed the students and presented an argument as to why they want to change the name of the school. Students researched articles written in the local newspapers and spoke with people in town to form their opinions.

On Friday October 31, 2003 the sixth grade students held a lively debate.

Students against the name change argued the costs of changing the name, time is money, something else could be named for Veterans, what have the Vetern's done for the school, the name Stony Brook represented a mixture of cultures in town, there are already 18 monuments in town named for Veterans, the school has already been named. Students for the name changed argued the change could be made over time, there is no price on people, Veteran's want something large to help people remember them, what did Stony Brook do for the school, Veterans kept us safe, there was only one name presented to the naming committee.