Facilitating Meaningful Dialogue with the Magruder High School Community
This Fall, we collaborated with Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) to engage the Rockville-area community in a crucial conversation – whether to rename Col. Zadok Magruder High School. Because Magruder enslaved people, Mark Simonson submitted a Petition to Rename Colonel Zadok Magruder High School, in February 2023. Community engagement was the next step in the district’s decision making process.
When we first set out, it was unclear how these discussions would unfold. Would people care enough to show up and share their perspectives? Would people feel comfortable enough to answer honestly about this issue? And ultimately, what kind of feedback will we receive?
We were blown away by the responses we received. Throughout the process, we had the opportunity to hear from more than 1,400 individuals via the community survey and five discussion groups.
Impassioned Arguments from Both Sides
Every discussion included a short lesson on the life of Zadok Magruder, led by local historian Ralph Buglass, an opportunity to talk in small groups about the potential renaming and then a group wide share out. These discussions have engaged families, educators, students, interested community members and the media. We were deeply moved by participants’ thoughtful contributions, on both sides of the issue.
One community member, a descendant of enslaved people, remarked, "If you're going to tell the story, you've got to tell it all. You can't have these Civil War effigies all over the place without telling the whole story.”
Another participant highlighted the contradiction between MCPS’s core values and the school name: “We tell them these are our core values, this is what we stand for, this is who we are. But there is a stark contrast when that student walks under the sign every day. Both can’t be true.”
Individuals against the name change shared concerns about the financial cost to the community. Many current Magruder students and parents advocated for spending the money in a more meaningful way, that could more substantially address inequity.
Others argued that the term "Magruder" has come to symbolize the diverse community of the school's students, families, and alumni, divorcing it from the historical figure. One highlighted, “When I think of Magruder, I went to Magruder, grew up at Magruder, my dad worked there, I associate the name with a sense of community; I never associated it with Zadok Magruder.”
Reflecting on Challenging Discussions
At Coaction Collective, engagement is what we do, so we were honored to delve into this complex topic with passionate community members. Particularly in our current political climate, issues can create such large divides that they seem insurmountable – but that is precisely when dialogue can be most important. We are so grateful to the students, educators, and families who showed up to enthusiastically discuss this community issue.
We have appreciated the opportunity to be a part of the community’s thoughtful reflection on the issue and we are always eager to support communities who need support in making strategic decisions like this one. Learn more about Coaction Collective’s approach to facilitation and the other services we offer at www.coactioncollective.com.
