Poem: The Naming of Schools

The naming of schools is an awkward matter,

it's not your average computer game;

you may think at first this is idle chatter

but a school needs a distinctive, heritage name.

This heritage name might be abbreviated

by its pupils and staff, its old girls and teachers,

yet its original name shouldn't be suffocated

being one of its affectionately known features.

Some of the old girls were incandescent,

Others went truly ballistic,

While a few said they were just florescent

Relegating the name to a simple statistic.

A change in this nomenclature or appellation

Dismays the Gals' Londonderry Air;

To dispel our onomastic declaration

Is tantamount to saying 'we were never there'.

But the terminology that makes us anonymous

regarding a decision that appears too political,

The vote, we hear, was almost unanimous

And it's incumbent on us to be analytical.

So let's be pragmatic with the fait accompli

The school's the same for you and for me

When all's said and done what's in a name?

The more things change the more they remain

the same –

Or more potently

As ever in my great taskmaster's eye!

A Member of LHSOGA London Branch