Parents Worried After Learning School Name Means 'Massacre'
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School Board members said they did not know the word's meaning before naming their newest high school Matanzas High School, Local 6 News reported.
"I bet a lot of people don't know that Matanzas means massacre because we did not know" parent Gene Shane said.
A battle between Spanish forces and French troops in Florida in 1565 is referred to as Matanzas. In Palm Coast, rivers and golf courses are named after Matanzas.
However, parents said they do not want the historical name associated with their school.
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"It is true it is part of history, but that was then. Today is different," parent Joel Shane said. "We are more civilized than we were in those days or that day and age."
Not all people believe the name should be an issue.
"People should lighten up, it is just a name," parent Tina Rogers said. "Considering all of the history we have, all of the other places called Matanzas -- Matanzas Beach, Matanzas Fort, Matanzas woods -- it is silly. So what if it is going to be called Matanzas High School." "I'm sure there are a lot of other words or names that have violent significance to them and people are not changing those. They are learning to live around them and I think that is the easiest thing to do," Palm Coast resident Floyd Thorp said.
The School Board will take up the issue at the next meeting, Local 6 News reported. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
