The Shenandoah County School Board in Virginia has decided to restore the original Confederate names of two schools, Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby Lee Elementary School, after previously changing them in response to discussions surrounding Confederate symbols following the death of George Floyd in 2020. The decision to restore the names came after a public hearing where members of the community debated the issue. The board ultimately voted to honor the wishes of the majority of residents who wanted to see the original names reinstated, citing the need to respect the community’s heritage.
Critics of the name changes claim the 2020 decision was made without input from the community and was rushed, while supporters of keeping the non-Confederate names argue that the old names were offensive to many students. The restoration of the Confederate names has sparked controversy, with some residents and organizations opposing the move, calling it a step backward that promotes “vengeance” and “hatred” rather than honoring heritage.
One board member, Kyle Gutshall, was the only dissenting vote, stating that he respected both sides of the debate but ultimately had to follow the wishes of his constituents. Despite the backlash, Shenandoah County is the first county in the nation to roll back changes made to institutions bearing Confederate names in the wake of the 2020 discussions surrounding Confederate symbols. The decision has left the community divided on how to move forward while preserving local history and heritage.
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