Effort Underway To Rename Charles Woodward High School After Former Slave

Heather Curtis
WMAL.com

WASHINGTON (WMAL) – Charles Woodward High School in Rockville is named after a Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge who ruled in 1937 black teachers have the right to equal pay, but the school – which has been closed since 1987 – could have a new name when it reopens in 2022. The building now houses Tilden Middle School students who had to leave their school because of construction. When they move out some renovations will be done before the building resumes its use as a high school.

A push is on to name Charles Woodward High School after Rev. Josiah Henson who escaped slavery in Montgomery County and inspired the book Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Montgomery County Council President Hans Riemer is leading the effort along with the county’s first lady, Catherine Leggett.

“I think this is the place, you know, to do it because it’s in the location, literally on the ground, when the students are at that school they can know that they are in the same, walking the same ground that Josiah Henson walked,” Riemer said.

Judge Patrick Woodward wrote to the school board asking the school keep his grandfather’s name. He said it would be devastating if the name of the school was changed.

“The school was in existence for over twenty years. It established a legacy amongst the students and the community at that location, and that legacy would be lost if the name, the name is changed,” Woodward said.

Woodward acknowledge’s Henson’s significance in the county’s history and is in favor of naming another school after him. He suggested one of the county’s new schools be named for Henson.

Riemer said the geographic connection Henson has to the land the Charles Woodward High School school sits on stands above all else to him. Riemer is open to naming another school in the county after Charles Woodward, saying there is no question the late judge made many contributions to the county.

The school board will make the final call on whether to change the name of the school.