I am writing regarding the article, “Cohen Family Anger,” (5-9 issue).
The Cohen family is not the only one angry at the decision of the Community Education Council to rename Public School 230, which is fondly known as the Doris Cohen School by the many who lived, grew up, and worked on behalf of the schools in the Kensington Community.
My husband and I both graduated from Public School 230, as did four of our nieces and nephews. My mother stood on the corner of 12th Avenue and Dahill Road with Doris Cohen and other parents to fight for a light at that corner long before there were paid crossing guards.
Doris Cohen was an active member of the local school board long before it became an elected position and a “political football.” When my children started school in District 15, I attended all the meetings of Community School District 15.
Public School 230 was not a Title 1 school when Doris Cohen was on the community school board, and therefore was not entitled to a summer program or any other additional funding. Doris Cohen approached Brooklyn College and together they formed a summer program for children in the community. Although my daughters attended Public School 130 (also not a Title 1 school in those days), their summers were enriched by being able to attend this program. This program was in effect even after Mrs. Cohen passed away in 1976. In addition, Community School Board 15, at the suggestion of Doris Cohen, placed the enrichment program in Public School 230 in order to fill the school so that it would not be considered underutilized and therefore closed.
It is most distressing to me that “institutions have no memories.” It is unthinkable to me that the community education council could consider naming a building for a young man who never attended the school and was not alive when the building was erected.
This name change was the best kept secret in the entire Kensington community! I certainly would have attended meetings opposing this decision and supported the Cohen family.
Carol Sue (Bergstein) Wolintz
Past-President
Parent-Teacher Association
Public School 130
