H.O. Brittingham students learn about school's namesake
Ten-year-old Sierra Fly pulled on a pair of white gloves and gently lifted a black and white photo of H.O. Brittingham when he was principal in Milton.
“I think he would've been strict,” she said.
Next to her, fifth-grade classmate Daniel Watson looked through photos neatly laid out in a back room of Milton Historical Society.
“People respected him. He's the only one out of his brothers and sisters who went to college,” he said.
Sierra and Daniel were part of a team of pint-sized historians researching the life and times of H.O. Brittingham, their elementary school's namesake.
“The students are getting into the history part of it,” said Principal Ned Gladfelter.
Gladfelter accompanied five students to the Milton Historical Society to research H.O. Brittingham. Using magnifying glasses and school-issued iPads, students copied yearbook photos and other images preserved by the historical society.
Amelia Burton, 10, focused her iPad on a photo that she'll add to the research. “He was a hard worker,” she said.
Paola Rodriguez and Justyce Deshields, both 10, used a stabilizer to zoom in for their photos.
“I think he would've been exciting, friendly and fun,” Justyce said.
The research was part of a larger project that included interviewing former students and current family members of H.O. Brittingham. “It allows kids to have more ownership of their learning,” Gladfelter said.
At the elementary school, another group of students held one-on-one interviews. A classroom has been transformed into a video studio, complete with green screen backdrop, lighting and video camera.
Fifth-grader Adrianna Powell interviewed Milton resident Ray Wilkinson about his experience as one of Mr. Brittingham's shop students. Wilkinson – married to Sarah Wilkinson, a former principal and school board member – recalled a stern Mr. Brittingham who allowed no horseplay in his industrial arts classroom.
Older students knew never to call Mr. Brittingham “HOB,” but they always found a younger boy to fall for it.
“As a punishment, a student had to be a tool tender for a week,” said Wilkinson, sheepishly admitting he had personal experience as a tool tender.
“If you were a tool tender, you didn't get to work on your project,” he said.
Though strict, Wilkinson said, Mr. Brittingham instilled a sense of respect. He also taught his students skills that lasted them a lifetime.
“I built my home myself and a lot had to do with him being my teacher,” Wilkinson said.
Milton resident Denny Hughes said he knew Mr. Brittingham all his life and remains friends with his son and his family.
“We had a lot of respect for him,” said Hughes. “He treated everybody good. If you needed anything, you could always ask him.”
School board keeps H.O. Brittingham on elementary
On Aug. 10, the Cape Henlopen school board approved the district school naming committee's recommendation to keep H.O. Brittingham's name on the new H.O. Brittingham Elementary.
“I'm totally in favor of it. I think it's a great thing to do,” said board member Roni Posner.
The board unanimously approved the name. Construction is underway for a new elementary that will replace the old H.O. Brittingham Elementary. Superintendent Robert Fulton said a committee overwhelmingly agreed to retain the H.O. Brittingham name.
“It's a good thing that everything worked out the way it did,” Fulton said. “I can't think of a better name myself.”
He said he received an email from someone suggesting the name Loganberry Elementary – because it resembles a “swollen Mulberry.” H.O. Brittingham Elementary is on Mulberry Street.
Future naming committees will be involved in other new school projects including naming a new Rehoboth Elementary, a new Sussex Consortium and renovation projects at the Lewes School and Milton Elementary.
