Bid Dropped To Rename Hampton Schools With Confederate Names

wavy.com ^ | 23-jan-2004

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(AP) - Hampton resident Erenestine Harrison has dropped her petition to rename Jefferson Davis Middle School in response to strong arguments from individuals and groups dedicated to Southern history.

"They convinced me, basically, that this means so much to them," Harrison said. "I don't think the black community cares as much about removing (the name) as much as they care about preserving it."

Earlier, she decided to forgo a campaign to change the name of Robert E. Lee Elementary School because she uncovered information indicating the Confederate general's family opposed slavery.

Davis served as president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War.

Harrison first starting collecting signatures in the fall on the premise that the Confederate figures are inappropriate namesakes for schools. She gained national attention and support from people such as Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

But groups such as the Tennessee-based Sons of Confederate Veterans strongly opposed the suggestion and came out in large numbers to defend Lee and Davis.

Harrison said earlier this week that she plans now to focus on studying Robert E. Lee, and hopes to bring the school-name issue into an academic arena for discussion.

[ladtx]

Wonder how many schools are named after Robert E. Lee? Probably quite a few. I know of one in Tyler, Texas. Hope they never change any of them.

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Related article 19-Jan-2004: (Robert E.) Lee school name OK, critic says

[Onelifetogive]

the Confederate general's family opposed slavery.

Sounds like current Catholic politicians and abortion..."While I'm personally against slavery, I don't think it's right to force my personal views on others."

[jscd3]

Sounds like current Catholic politicians and abortion..."

No, it actually sounds more like current Catholic officers in the US Military who may hate abortion, but who are still loyal Amaericans and willing to serve their country.

[jscd3]

Amaericans = Americans

Need that coffee...

[ZULU]

I think naming a school after Jeff Davis is a little foolish. He did a lousy job of running the war and was neurotic.

If you want to honor a southerner, name a school after Robert E. Lee, a great American and Southerner and atower of integrity and intelligence, or Stonewall Jackson, or
John Singleton Mosby (who actually became a Republican after the war), or Beaurigard, or any one of a host of real heros. But NOT Jeff Davis. Without that albatross, the South might actually have won the war (you might make that argument to those who oppose the naming of the school for him.)

[Paleo Conservative]

Bid Dropped To Rename Hampton Schools With Confederate Names

That's a confusing title. I wouldn't have a problem with renaming schools so they bear the names of Confederates.

[AppyPappy]

Maybe they could rename Robert E Lee Elementary School to Sweet Pea Whitaker Elementerary School

[cake_crumb]

Well...at least she was smart enough to learn and kind enough not to impose her will on the majority by claiming she was offended, bringing in the ACLU and dragging it all the way to the Supreme Court. Which would have promptly expunged the names Lee and Davis from US history books.

[stainlessbanner]

Longest proposed school name:
"Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard Senior High School"

[Non-Sequitur]

They'll have to change the name of the whole damned town then. God forbid that someone might think it was named after Wade Hampton.

[AppyPappy]

Yeah, if you can't spell it, you can't graduate.

[cake_crumb]

"I wouldn't have a problem with renaming schools so they bear the names of Confederates"

LOL...that was what I thought it said at first, too.

[reg45]

LOL...that was what I thought it said at first, too.

Me too!

[Eagle93]

Sadly, there are schools named for REAL racists, like A.J. Ellender, that will never get renamed. It's easier to target Confederate officials and remain ignorant than it is to understand our history.

People need to think about this sort of thing, before jumping to uninformed conclusions.