It has taken me a long time to come around to this way of thought, but I am now convinced that erecting statues of people is a poor option. Glorify their good works, not the person. Teach kids that a HUMAN BEING, JUST LIKE THEM, came up with these good ideas, and they can too! Don't literally put an old white man on a pedestal like he's the only one that could have provided that value to the world. Not only is it untrue, it whitewashes people who were truly terrible human beings.

It is very odd to me that you want children to see that ideas come from humans, but are opposed to showing the statue of the human that conceived of that idea. As for "old" white dudes, Thomas Jefferson was 33 years old when he wrote the declaration of independence. Not exactly a geezer. Is it okay for young white people's ideas to be celebrated? Young hispanic people? Middle aged asian people? Eldery inuits? And if so, why can't those ideas be celebrated with an image of that person? What's wrong with that? Truly baffled. And, btw I am not indoctrinated by any means. I know that the history that was spoon-fed me in my youth was/is immensely propagandized.

like he's the only one that could have provided that value to the world. Not only is it untrue

- I disagree with this. Often times it is very true. There are men and women of their age that were singular and provided value and ideas that no others could have. Da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin, Beethoven, Shakespeare, O'Keefe. They provided a value that only they could have. It's okay to celebrate exceptionalism and it's okay to call out hypocrisy. But what worries me is the question, who decides? Who are the moral gatekeepers? You? Me? I say let the statue stand and change the placard next to it to make it clear re his accomplishments and shortcomings. Of which there were plenty of both.