They suggested calling the 83-year-old school the binoculars from now on. That name fits in well with the philosophy of the school, says director Nienke Egtberts in a press release. “The name De binoculars symbolizes curiosity, wonder and daring to look beyond the here-and-now.”
The name change is widely supported, the school emphasizes in the press release. Spokesperson Anja Reijmers van Amstelwijs says that the search for an alternative name was ‘a nice process’.
Everyone involved
After the submissions arrived, the school prepared a shortlist in consultation with the participation council. Subsequently, the school team and parent representatives spoke about the remaining suggestions. In the end, the student council selected two finalists, after which the school team gave the final blow.
“We have chosen to do it this way because students only go to school there a limited period, but many employees work there indefinitely,” says Reijmers.
‘Not out of rejection of past’
Earlier, director Nienke Egberts told NH that the wish for a different name did not come ‘from rejection of the past’. The Dutch Michiel de Ruyter was the most famous admiral of his time, but with his conquests the West India Company (WIC) would also have helped maintaining the Atlantic slave trade.