In a recent development in Virginia, the school board has voted to restore the names of Confederate military leaders to a high school and an elementary school. This action overturns a decision made four years prior where the Confederate names had been removed. The schools in question, Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary, will be renamed as Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby Lee Elementary respectively. It is believed that this reversal might be the first of its type. Majority of the school board was in support of the restoration, with only one member voting against it.
What We Know:
- The move to restore the Confederate names has sparked a heated debate among the residents of the county. Some residents, like Kenny Wakeman, view the restoration of the Confederate names as a return to tradition, noting that these names have stood for many years before being suddenly removed in 2020. However, others like Beth Ogle see the restoration as an act that disrespects and disregards the dignity of minority students, staff, and faculty. The school board member who opposed the renaming, Kyle Gutshall, acknowledged the complexities of the issue and respected both arguments, yet believed a majority of the residents would have preferred to keep the new names from 2020.
- The decision to remove Confederate names in 2020 was not specific to Virginia but was seen across the South. This removal came in response to the Black Lives Matter movement and pressure from larger societal changes demanding racial justice. The removal of Confederate names and memorials was a trending action until last year when the movement seemed to slow down. Last year saw the Army renaming nine installations named after Confederate leaders and even removing a Confederate memorial from the Arlington National Cemetery.
- Shenandoah County’s school board’s decision to restore the Confederate names is the opposite of this trend. The county’s largely rural jurisdiction was able to make this change due to a law enacted in 2020 that lifted restrictions that previously prevented local governments from removing Confederate memorials and statues. Virginia was now able to decide for themselves how to handle memorials or honors to the Confederacy, and in Shenandoah County, this meant restoring the names that had been previously stripped away.
- The Confederate names in question have longstanding history attached to them. Stonewall Jackson was a Confederate general from Virginia who gained fame in 1861 and later died in battle in 1863. The name of the Ashby Lee Elementary alludes to Gen. Robert E. Lee, a Virginia native who commanded Confederate forces, and Turner Ashby, a Confederate cavalry officer who lost his life in battle in 1862.
The renaming of the schools is also an interesting financial choice. The resolution approved by the school board specifies that private donations will be used to fund the name changes, therefore the entire county won’t have to shoulder the financial burden. This decision might be seen as a smart move to avoid further controversy, given the varying opinions regarding the renaming. In any outcome, the school board’s decision to restore the Confederate names will keep the county under close watch to see what effects, if any, may arise.
