In an unprecedented move, a school district in Virginia became the maiden in the nation to revert to original school names linked to the Confederacy, after a name change had previously taken place. A momentous decision took place in 2020 by the Shenandoah County School Board where they altered the names of Stonewall Jackson High School and Ashby-Lee Elementary School to Mountain View High School and Honey Run Elementary School respectively.
However, this decision ignited a simmering discontent amongst some local inhabitants who raised a concern that the board had taken the decision to modify the names without considering public opinion. On 9th of May, against this backdrop, the board conducted a public hearing intending to deliberate upon reverting the names. The discussion saw a majority vote in favor with a 5-1 tally, leading to the restoration of the original names.
The board members who voted in favor of resurrecting the original names maintained their stance, arguing that the 2020 school board bypassed proper procedures to accomplish their agenda. Gloria Carlineo, a member of the District 2 School Board, criticized the previous board actions, questionning their due process and alleging them of ignoring the voice of the people they represented.
‘The actions of the previous board was not an inadvertent error by some neophyte members, but instead, a meticulously planned progression towards their goal, largely ignoring the concerns of those they should represent’, Carlineo contended. A local resident who advocated for the name restoration coupled the sentiment, remarking, ‘The irony is rich with those who preach lectures on morality whilst turning a blind eye towards the acts of the 2020 school board.’
On the contrary, Kyle Gutshall, who stood as the singular opposing vote, expressed his perspective, ‘There’s a proper way and an improper way of doing things. At the end of the day, it really boils down to one’s viewpoint.’ Adding further, he said ‘The question regarding moral and immoral, right and wrong, is largely subjective and hinges on individual perspective.’
Another resident opined, ‘Reverting to the name ‘Stonewall Jackson’ in 2024, would be akin to bringing back a 1959 act that is indelibly linked to mass resistance and segregation under the Jim Crow laws’, highlighting the historical implications of the change.
General Thomas ‘Stonewall’ Jackson is revered as one of the most formidable generals of the American Civil War. On a personal level, he was a staunch Presbyterian. Before the flames of war scorched the land, he was known to organize Sunday school sessions for the black populace at his church.
In 1863, a tragic incident occurred when Jackson was accidentally shot by one of his own, consequently leading to the amputation of his left arm. Barely a week later, he succumbed to his injuries. ‘Jackson was not known to either excuse or advocate the institution of slavery. In his worldview, slavery was sanctified by the Creator and it was not within man’s moral jurisdiction to challenge its existence,’ remarked historian James Robertson in his work, Stonewall Jackson: The Man, the Soldier, the Legend.
Interestingly, the name of Ashby-Lee drew its reference from General Robert E. Lee, the commander of the Confederate army, and Turner Ashby, a dedicated Confederate cavalry officer who performed under Jackson’s command and lost his life in 1862.
Robert E. Lee, a figure of immense historical importance, had received an offer for the role of Major General in the Union army, poised to wage war against the Confederacy. However, his initial opposition to Southern secession was eventually overshadowed by his deeper allegiance to his home state, Virginia.
Despite his personal conflicts, Lee quoted, ‘I shall never raise weapons against the Union, however, circumstances may necessitate my participation in the defense of my beloved Virginia, in which case I would not fail in my duty.’ Thus, this statement portrays Lee’s gravitation towards defending his home turf over engaging in a broader national conflict which he initially resisted.