In a move that has sparked both cheers and jeers, the Shenandoah County school board voted early Friday morning to restore the names of three Confederate officers to schools in the district, reversing a decision made four years ago in the wake of nationwide racial justice protests.
Shenandoah County Reverts School Names in Unprecedented Move Amidst Controversy
Four years ago, the killing of George Floyd sparked a nationwide reckoning with systemic racism, prompting the Shenandoah County school board to rename Ashby-Lee Elementary and Stonewall Jackson High School. The board voted 5-1 to change the names to Honey Run and Mountain View. These changes were made to align with a resolution condemning racism. However, the decision faced significant backlash from local residents who felt the changes were made hastily and without proper consultation.
The board’s decision to revert to the original names—Ashby-Lee Elementary and Stonewall Jackson High—marks the first instance in the country where Confederate names are being reinstated in schools that had previously removed them, according to researchers at the Montgomery-based Equal Justice Initiative.
Tom Streett, a school board member, defended the decision, saying, “When you read about this man—who he was, what he stood for, his character, his loyalty, his leadership, how Godly a man he was—those standards that he had were much higher than any leadership of the school system in 2020.” Streett, along with four other board members, voted in favor of the name restoration.
National Trend of Reversing Racial Justice Measures Reaches Shenandoah County
Shenandoah County, which is over 90 percent white, is not isolated in its actions. Across the United States, numerous measures adopted in 2020 and 2021, such as new classroom curriculums on the nation’s racial history, have been curtailed or eliminated in recent years. Political leaders have denounced critical race theory, and some schools have reinstated mascots previously condemned as racially insensitive. However, until Friday, no school district had reinstated Confederate names.
The vote did not come as a surprise to many. Signs that had been removed from Stonewall Jackson High were kept in storage, almost as if anticipating their return. Additionally, the three board members who voted to retain the new names in 2022 did not seek re-election, paving the way for new board members with different priorities.
School Board Member’s Remarks Highlight Ongoing Community Division Over Confederate Names
“We were burnt out,” said Marty Helsley, a 73-year-old farmer who served one term on the board. Helsley was the lone vote against dropping the Confederate names in 2020 and believed the board should have taken more time with its decision. By 2022, he felt the district should move on from the issue. “They cannot let it go,” Helsley remarked before Friday’s vote. “It’s been four years! The Civil War only lasted four years!”
In 2023, three conservatives won seats on the board, running on platforms to eliminate what they termed the “woke Leftist agenda” from schools. Although they did not campaign specifically on the school names, many residents inferred their positions.
In April, the Coalition for Better Schools submitted a letter to the school board, claiming to have conducted a survey showing overwhelming support for restoring the Confederate names. Despite questions about the survey’s reliability—fewer than one in seven recipients responded—the board decided to reconsider the names.
Passionate Public Comments Reflect Deep Divides Over Confederate Name Restoration
Thursday night’s meeting saw a large turnout, with residents packed into a middle school cafeteria for a session that extended past midnight, including four hours of public comments. Opponents of the name restoration included both white residents descended from Confederate soldiers and Black residents who had experienced the integration of local schools firsthand.
Several speakers highlighted that Stonewall Jackson High was named in 1959, during Virginia’s “massive resistance” to integration. Others noted the irony of starting the meeting with a Pledge of Allegiance to a flag Jackson fought against.
Aliyah Ogle, a 14-year-old student, voiced her opposition, saying, “Jackson died fighting for slavery. Had he won, I would not be allowed to attend public school, and I would not be speaking here today.”
Related Stories
Debate Over Confederate Names Highlights Divergent Views on Racism and Historical Legacy
Proponents argued they hadn’t seen the racism described and felt the 2020 board’s decision caused division. “Some people say they take offense to the school names,” said Fred Neese, a 69-year-old poultry farmer. “I’m offended that they’re disparaging the good names of our ancestors.”
Board members expressed various viewpoints, from decrying identity politics to reading prayers for healing. The board’s chairman claimed America faces less racism and civil strife than other parts of the world. The board’s sole minority member, a Latina, argued that accusations of racism often come from those seeking political division.
Ultimately, the board decided to honor what they perceived as the majority’s wishes. Shortly after midnight, they voted to restore the Confederate names, sparking debate on the Confederacy’s legacy.