It is time Gettysburg and Gettysburg School District honor Thaddeus Stevens for his contributions to local, state and national history.

Thaddeus Stevens is often referred to as the Father of Public Education in Pennsylvania. He fought tirelessly to ensure everyone had the chance for a free, public education. He realized education was the great equalizer and those that had an education also had a fighting chance in life.

Thaddeus Stevens was instrumental in the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments. He was a strong advocate for public education in PA and enormous force in fighting for civil and equal rights.

Considering his link to Gettysburg and his link to history, his legacy is ignored frequently in a town that prides itself as the turning point of the Civil War.

Stevens also was instrumental in founding Gettysburg College and they, at least, have found it appropriate to name a building in his honor.

Finally, Stevens was an advocate for the lower income, disadvantaged in the world. His will helped to found Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster which today is a leader in technical and trade based education.

Read more about Stevens at www.stevenscollege.edu/301396.ihtml.

The time is now to recognize Thaddeus Stevens and his contributions to history by naming the new Middle School in Gettysburg after him. The school board argues there is only one middle school, therefore it should not be named. We think it is only fitting that the school be named after Stevens, also a one of kind figure in US history.