They made the right decision, but I'm sure the battle over the new name of the school will be a ****show.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in the Stuart pyramid and couldn't be more happy with the decision. It's a relief to know that not only will my kids not be attending a school named after a shameful period in our history (and that includes the civil war and massive resistance) but also that by the time my kids get there the controversy and the constant infighting will have died down.

Easy for you to say. Sandy Evans has demeaned many of the kids currently there. It has caused division and fear. This was handled improperly from the very beginning.

I've seen no evidence of Sandy Evans demeaning anyone, particularly students, even those some of the more vocal keepers (primarily old white people) try to make her seem like the anti-Christ. It really is a classic case of people lashing out when their white privilege is threatened.

Anonymous wrote:How long have we had to look at Andrew Jackson's face on $20 bills? No one has ever even thought twice about how many native Americans died because of his Indian Removal Act (and it was in the thousands, and many were my relatives as I'm 1/4 Cherokee). We can't change history by obliterating names and images. They stand as reminders of what should never happen again.

You know that the $20 is being changed to feature Harriet Tubman, right? Many people thought twice about having him, which is what lead to the successful campaign to have him replaced.

I can remember someone's name and their role in history, without celebrating them by naming things after them or putting them on money. For example, I strongly believe that Hitler and the Holocaust should never be forgotten, but I'd be horrified if someone made a stamp with Hitler's face.

Anonymous wrote:I live in the Stuart pyramid and couldn't be more happy with the decision. It's a relief to know that not only will my kids not be attending a school named after a shameful period in our history (and that includes the civil war and massive resistance) but also that by the time my kids get there the controversy and the constant infighting will have died down.

+1000. We feel the same way.

Anonymous wrote:I live in the Stuart pyramid and couldn't be more happy with the decision. It's a relief to know that not only will my kids not be attending a school named after a shameful period in our history (and that includes the civil war and massive resistance) but also that by the time my kids get there the controversy and the constant infighting will have died down.

Easy for you to say. Sandy Evans has demeaned many of the kids currently there. It has caused division and fear. This was handled improperly from the very beginning.

I live in the Stuart pyramid and couldn't be more happy with the decision. It's a relief to know that not only will my kids not be attending a school named after a shameful period in our history (and that includes the civil war and massive resistance) but also that by the time my kids get there the controversy and the constant infighting will have died down.

Should be an interesting meeting tonight.

What a shame that it has been handled the way it was. Had it been handled properly, there might have been some type of compromise. As it is, it has been divisive and upsetting to the community. Sandy Evans just does not get it. I know she meant well, but she and Hynes should have been open and transparent with the keepers as well as the changers.

And, blaming good people who are long gone is just wrong. She does not understand Virginia in the early part of the last century. Some were raised with grandfathers who had fought in the Civil War and--while much of what they learned may have been wrongheaded--it was not necessarily evil. These people who were raised in this atmosphere revered their elders. It is quite likely that some of the Board members at that time had grandfathers who fought for the South. I am a very mature woman now and my mother's grandfather fought for the South. And, no, he was not a slaveowner.

But to assume that the Board--including Woodson--named the school out of defiance, when, in fact there are minutes that deny that, is unjust and unfair. Hynes and Evans knew that, but let that myth continue. In fact, it is used as one of the arguments. And, it is false.

I don't know what drove Jeb Stuart's decision, but I do know that many of his fellow Confederates did not want their state to secede. I'm pretty sure that was the case with him. This could be a learning experience --how a young man made a tough decision that he could not fight against his home and family. He was directed to do so. He was directed to fight against Virginia. So, he resigned from the USArmy.

In today's world, I wonder if something could not be learned from this lesson.

The politicians may have seceded over slavery, but the soldiers fought to defend their homes.

Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Hynes would do well to talk with some native Virginians who are of another generation. They might learn something about people and their views.

I understand the issue. Had this been handled without the outside influence of the NAACP, it might have turned out more harmoniously--and the community might have supported a change. But, it was not handled properly. They should have presented it as the compassionate thing to do instead of just to go out on the attack. Demonizing the Woodson Board was wrong. And, Evans and Hynes latched on to that theme early in the process. When it was pointed out (as evidenced in the FOIA emails) that this was not the case, they ignored it. Pulling in the attack dogs from outside the Stuart community just caused people to double down.

This has already cost resources to FCPS. It will continue to cost resources--and goodwill. Lots of resources.

And, no matter how carefully crafted the motion, it opens the door to lots and lots of changes and lots of financial resources that would be much better spent in the classroom. No question, the NAACP will not stop with Stuart. We will move on to others. It is actions like these that made people vote against the Meals Tax. I would have voted for the Meals Tax. I know how important it is to have good teachers with good resources. But, it is clear that is not the priority of this School Board. Look at the money and time spent trying to pass the "bathroom" reg. They could have left it alone--it would have been handled gracefully in the schools. But, they had to put their own attitudes ahead of education. And, yes, they lost support when they did that. Had they waited a year or two, it would have been okay.

Because of this, a handful of people will get the name changed at the expense of the "keepers". Perhaps, if they had not demonized the "keepers" they would have received their support.

The best estimate of the cost of changing Stuart's name is under $700K, and that is before private contributions are solicited. In the context of a $2.7-2.8 BILLION annual budget with many line items, the cost is simply not significant. If you had any facility with math, you'd stop arguing this point.

And changing Stuart's name does not necessarily portend changing the names of other schools. He appears to be unique in that he is not known for anything other than fighting for the Confederacy. There is no reason to continue to honor him and, quite frankly, the insistence of some that we continue to do so makes Fairfax County look like some backwater full of unreconstructed and insensitive rednecks.

Suggest you watch last week's workshop on this.
1. The under $700K is not true. And, it does not include the "unintended consequences" of other expenses--which will fall on booster clubs and parents. Bottom line: it will put a huge hole in the local boosters and supporters that contribute to the school. When have you ever known an expense estimate from FCPS to come in under the estimate?

2. Sure, in the context of Billions, it is "not significant"--except that it is money that it not going to improve the education of students. I can think of a lot of ways to spend a million dollars that would have real results.

3. In today's world, the school would not be named Jeb Stuart. However, the school itself now has a history tied to the name that has nothing to do with Jeb Stuart. And, I think wasting money would make Fairfax County look more like a backwater than changing the name. And, FWIW, lots of people support keeping the name who are not "unreconstructed and insensitive rednecks." I suggest you open your own mind a little and learn that people can have differing opinions.

FWIW, there are lots of schools named after educators and the students have no idea who the person was. Lots of systems name schools after retired superintendents that no one ever heard of. The kids really don't care. I know--I went to a school like that. The name of the school has no impact on the education of the kids.

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, it's not what I said. But it's amusing to watch you try to spin it.

You do understand that the cost is @$1million ? How to you expect them to do it without spending lots of money?

You do understand that there are 31 schools that have connections to people who owned slaves or fought for the Confederacy?

This is Virginia. Slavery and the Confederacy are part of its history.

The best estimate of the cost of changing Stuart's name is under $700K, and that is before private contributions are solicited. In the context of a $2.7-2.8 BILLION annual budget with many line items, the cost is simply not significant. If you had any facility with math, you'd stop arguing this point.

And changing Stuart's name does not necessarily portend changing the names of other schools. He appears to be unique in that he is not known for anything other than fighting for the Confederacy. There is no reason to continue to honor him and, quite frankly, the insistence of some that we continue to do so makes Fairfax County look like some backwater full of unreconstructed and insensitive rednecks.

Actually, it's not what I said. But it's amusing to watch you try to spin it.

You do understand that the cost is @$1million ? How to you expect them to do it without spending lots of money?

You do understand that there are 31 schools that have connections to people who owned slaves or fought for the Confederacy?

This is Virginia. Slavery and the Confederacy are part of its history.

Anonymous wrote:

What about the cost to black kids of attending schools named after, and defended by, white supremacists?

So, instead of educating the kids, you want to spend millions and millions renaming schools? Because that is what you just said.

Actually, it's not what I said. But it's amusing to watch you try to spin it.

At some point, the message will prevail that asking students to attend a school that honors a white man known to history only because he fought to keep blacks in bondage is not appropriate.

Whether the change occurs this year or later, change is going to come.

What about the cost to black kids of attending schools named after, and defended by, white supremacists?

So, instead of educating the kids, you want to spend millions and millions renaming schools? Because that is what you just said.

Anonymous wrote:

In any event, the effect of the name has been hurtful and detrimental to the county's reputation. The name should change.

At a cost of almost $1million--and, maybe more? And, this is just the beginning. Do you know how many school names have slave owner or Confederate ties? What about Mark Twain who used some pretty inappropriate language in his books?

What about the cost to black kids of attending schools named after, and defended by, white supremacists?

In any event, the effect of the name has been hurtful and detrimental to the county's reputation. The name should change.

At a cost of almost $1million--and, maybe more? And, this is just the beginning. Do you know how many school names have slave owner or Confederate ties? What about Mark Twain who used some pretty inappropriate language in his books?

Anonymous wrote:

If naming a Virginia high school after a Confederate general in 1958 - at the same time Virginia was fighting integration tooth-and-nail - wasn't "spiteful against integration," it certainly was indifferent to the feelings of the minority students who eventually would be allowed to attend the school.

It may have been insensitive, but there is documentation that proves that was not the reason. And, the some of the writers of the report that support that myth knew it.

It may or may not have been intended as a deliberate affront. If it was named because FCPS was committed to naming schools after prominent deceased Americans, why did they name the school after a dead traitor and then name another one after a living individual a few years later?

In any event, the effect of the name has been hurtful and detrimental to the county's reputation. The name should change.