Virginia Education Board Votes to Reinstate Confederate Names for Schools

The education board for Shenandoah County, Virginia, made headlines as they voted to restore Confederate names to two public schools in the district. In a 6-1 decision, the board overturned their 2020 ruling that had removed the names of Confederate generals from the schools.

Mountain View High School will now be known as Stonewall Jackson High, while Honey Run Elementary School will revert to the name Ashby Lee Elementary. The board specified that any funds needed for the name changes must come from private sources, not public revenue.

This decision goes against the national trend of removing Confederate symbols and names from public buildings and institutions, following racial justice protests in 2020. The vote marks the first reversal of such actions in the country since then.

The debate over the Confederate names was contentious, with arguments from both sides. Supporters of the change cited the racist history associated with the Confederacy, while those in favor of restoring the names emphasized the cultural significance and historical context.

The proposal to restore the Confederate names was initiated by a local conservative group, the Coalition for Better Schools, who cited surveys showing that over 90% of respondents favored the switch back to the original names.

Despite opposition from some residents, including a citizens group that gathered signatures to keep the current names, the board’s decision reflects the changing political landscape in the district. The outcome of the vote has sparked further debate and division among the community.