2020 Vision and Revisions

VOLUME 20 ISSUE 1 An Integrated Curriculum of The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program

■ Word Study: It’s About Change ■ Photo Timeline: 2020 Images of Change ■ Student Activity: Photographs and Captions ■ Student Activity: Prepare a Story Caption ■ KidsPost Reprint: “Washington’s football team may at long last get a new name” ■ Post Reprint: “Loudoun officials vote to remove ‘Silent Sentinel’ ■ Post Reprint: “Va. schools quickly lose Confederate names” ■ Student Activity: What Should We Be Called?

INTRODUCTION Permanent Change?

In 2020 the three C’s became a way to express CDC cautionary messages — closed spaces, crowded places and close contact. Avoid these to stay safe. The mantra of wash your hands often, wear a mask and maintain six feet distance from others also expressed the changes in behavior that people around the globe needed to make to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

At the same time other changes were taking place. With the round-trip journey of NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley, the U.S. returned to launching shuttles. The Democrat and Republican national conventions were not held in convention centers. Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) was nominated as the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

A convergence of events led to protests and civil rights rallies in American cities and across the globe. When video taken by a student showed a police officer refusing to remove his knee from George Floyd’s neck, resulting in Floyd’s death, people cried for justice and reform. The names and lives of others were called out, Black Lives Matter protests gained momentum and a plaza in D.C. was named and painted in bold yellow letters.

Conscience and questions coalesced as school names were challenged. Sports teams, including the Washington Football team, examined their names and mascots. Statues of Civil War Black Lives Matter PLaza MARVIN JOSEPH THE WASHINGTON POST and civic leaders were researched, reviled, pulled down during protests and/or removed to safe places.

Would these changes be a fleeting disruption of the norm? Or would they be permanent and lead to more civic and policy changes?

On the cover: An empty base remains at the site where “Silent Sentinel,” a 112-year-old statue of a Confederate soldier, once stood in front of the Loudoun County courthouse in Leesburg, Va. / MARK MILLER/THE WASHINGTON POST

It’s About Change “Change” is a very useful word. You change outfits. Or change plans. You change tires. You hope for change after a food purchase and ask for change from a $20 bill. Seasons change. Social changes are studied. You can have a change of heart — and even change your mind.

Its etymology can be found in Old French, Latin and Old Irish. In Old French changier meant to “change,” “alter” or “switch.” The Latin word cambire means “to exchange” or “barter.” Celtic kemb (“to bend,” “to change” and “to barter”) and the Old Irish camm meant “crooked” or “curved.” Do you see these ideas in today’s uses of change?

1. The following words indicate change. Define them to distinguish one from the other. Then use each one in a sentence. The ability to describe types of changes through word choice gives you more command of your expression.

Organize on your own paper for each word: Word: Definition: Sentence:

A. About-face B. Alter C. Alteration D. Curtail E. Exchange F. Innovation G. Modify H. Substitute I. Transform J. Tweak

2. Give a noun that indicates change. Use it in two sentences.

3. Give a verb that indicates change. Use it in two sentences.

2020 Images of Change Photographs capture momentous moments as well as the most mundane of happenings. These images are of first events and changes taking place in 2020.

Identify the place, people and event in each photograph.

JONATHAN ERNST/REUTERS TONI L. SANDYS/THE WASHINGTON POST

CORY HUSTON/NASA/ASSOCIATED PRESS

2020 Images of Change continued

JOHN MCDONNELL/THE WASHINGTON POST ALEX BRANDON/ASSOCIATED PRESS

JONATHAN NEWTON/THE WASHINGTON POST

Photographs and Captions Photographs and captions work together with the headline and article to give readers information about people, places and events. Readers often look at the photograph and read the caption before starting to read the article. Captions are present tense to indicate the instant that is captured. Captions name the people, help to put the action into a context, and indicate where and when it is taking place. Captions may tell why the moment is important. Some captions may be longer to give more information. If they are placed with a photograph and no article, they are called story captions.

1 2 3

4 5 6

Look carefully at the photographs to read their visual communication. Then read the captions. Match the caption and photograph that together tell the story (story caption) or part of the event.

A. The Washington Football Team will get new uniforms and helmets once a new name and logo are decided and some legal hurdles are cleared. B. Lawmakers surround the casket of the late congressman John Lewis during the funeral service held in the Capitol Rotunda. Lewis, the first African American to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol, was a champion of civil rights and justice. His coffin rests on the catafalque that first held President Abraham Lincoln’s coffin. C. Workers in Richmond (Va.) remove J.E.B. Stuart’s statue on July 8. It is the last of four Confederate markers on city-owned Monument Avenue property to come down. D. The Nationals and Yankees stand for the national anthem Thursday night at an eerily empty Nationals Park. The July 23 season opener began hours after the MLB and its players’ union reached an agreement on the pandemic-delayed season. E. Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) is introduced by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on August 12 at a Delaware high school without the normal cheering crowds because of coronavirus precautions. “America is crying out for leadership.” Harris said. F. The SpaceX capsule splashes down in the calm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, hundreds of miles from Tropical Storm Isaias in the Atlantic. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley completed a fiery, high-speed journey back from the International Space Station on August 2. KLMNO

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Marchers to D.C. face racism, arrests on weeks-long walk from Wisconsin VOLUME 20 ISSUE 1 BY MARISSA J. LANG as Frank Nitty, the group began Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and ple. ted them to finishing their jour- An Integrated Curriculumits trek in a Milwaukee of The Washington parking George Post Floyd, Newspaper will also Inaddress Education Now, Program as tensions soar in ney to D.C. Before police shot a Black man Activists feel new sense lot on Aug. 4. the crowd. The Rev. Al Sharpton, Kenosha, Wis. — following the “It makes it harder for us, from Wisconsin seven times in of urgency leading into Twenty-five days later — after who led organizing efforts for police shooting Sunday of Jacob seeing that happen in our own the back at point-blank range, arrests, a shooting and countless Friday’s march, began planning Blake, the shooting death of two community, but it also lights a before the National Guard was March on Washington conversations with angry and in June, in the wake of Floyd’s protesters and the arrest of 17- fire in us,” said Briana Neal, 29, called in amid nightly unrest, a frightened White residents wor- funeral and in the midst of year-old Kyle Rittenhouse on a who protested at Black Lives group of Milwaukee activistsPrepare set a Story riedCaption that a “Black lives matter” protest and uprising across the charge of first-degree intentional Matter demonstrations for off on a protest march calling for the beat of music from a tinny chant was a foghorn warning of country. homicide — activists say the months before joining the cara- an end to racist policing and cellphone speaker or the win- violence — the group plans to This week’s March on Wash- march has taken on a new sense van. “It hurts to be so far away. injustice that wouldThe wind story dows caption of a support accompanies vehicle in their onearrive or early more Friday photographs in the nation’s andington, il lustrations.dubbed the “Get It Youris self of containedurgency. with no article.But you know what? I’m going through mountains and cross growing caravan. capital, where Nitty will take the Knee Off Our Necks” March, was For days, the unrest in straight to Kenosha when we state lines. It may be boxedThey were or heading have to additional the 2020 stage white at the spaceLincoln Memorial.around it. always meant to draw attention Kenosha has tugged at members leave D.C., and when I get back In cities big and small, they March on Washington the old- Families of men and women to the criminal justice system’s of the walking caravan. there, I’m going to be so much raised their fists and chanted, fashioned way: by putting one who have been killed by law unequal treatment of Black peo- Several from Wisconsin stronger than when I left.” “Black lives matter.” ThisIn sleepy indepth foot in caption front of the contains other. the enforcementfive Ws areand scheduled H, often to presenting the context (Why)thought for about the returning action to standor Before they set out, Milwaukee suburbs, they marchedencounter and capturedLed by Milwaukee in the imageactivist —speak. what Benjamin happened Crump, beforewho More and inside: after. What It to may know about also provideagainst violence a quotation. in the lakefront civil rights advocate and commu- bobbed down empty streets to Frank Sensabaugh, better known has represented the families of road closures and participating. B2 city. Others said it has recommit- see march on B2 Read and discuss the example of a story caption from August 28, 2020. Then think about a person, event or Concernssituation in your community that you could photograph and write a story caption to accompany the image(s).Hogan over D.C.’s A new way forward Medicaid urges changes schools BY JULIE ZAUZMER to open The D.C. Council is scrutiniz- ing a move by the Bowser admin- istration that would reshuffle health coverage for hundreds of Md. governor cites thousands of the District’s sick- improving metrics est and poorest residents. At a hastily scheduled meeting Thursday, lawmakers will dis- Teachers, system leaders cuss the city’s plan to cut costs by decry ‘last-minute’ stand assigning all Medicaid patients to managed-care plans and split- ting them randomly among three BY DONNA ST. GEORGE health-care providers: MedStar, AmeriHealth and CareFirst. Just four days before the Council members, medical school year begins in many parts professionals and patients have of Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan all raised concerns about the (R) announced the state’s 24 proposal, which would place school systems are “fully author- about 100,000 patients this fall ized to begin safely reopening” onto new health-care plans, for in-person classes, based on some of which do not cover the improving health metrics. patients’ current doctors. Joined by State Superinten- “There are questions that need dent Karen Salmon, Hogan urged to be answered by the Depart- local school leaders to reevaluate ment of Health Care Finance their decisions about the fall about why they decided to essen- months, saying there is no substi- tially reallocate these patients Howard Baker changes out tute for face-to-face learning and during this global pandemic and accusing some county school this public health emergency. I the signs at the Manassas boards of not even attempting to think it’s questionable,” said school formerly known as plan to bring children back to Council member Kenyan R. classrooms amid the pandemic. McDuffie (D-Ward 5), who called Stonewall Jackson High. His words came as another jolt for the meeting amid the coun- The institution will now be see schools on B5 cil’s August recess. The three contracts, totaling called Unity Reed High $1.5 billion, are together one of School. The decision to New cases in region the biggest outlays of money by the D.C. government and one of remove the name of the Through 5 p.m. Thursday, 1,770 the most contentious, as Confederate general, which new coronavirus cases were health-care companies jostle for reported in D.C., Maryland and a share of the funding. also affected a middle Virginia, bringing the total number Right now, most of the city’s school, was made this of cases to 236,436. nearly 250,000 Medicaid recipi- ents are covered by what’s summer. The high school’s D.C. MD. VA. known as a “managed care or- name honors Arthur Reed, +72 +577 +1,121 ganization,” in which the city 13,794 106,063 116,579 pays a set rate — based on a a longtime school security person’s health conditions — to a assistant. Coronavirus-related deaths private health-care company and As of 5 p.m. Thursday: the company acts as the patient’s insurer. photos by Amanda Andrade-Rhoades For The Washington Post D.C. MD.* VA. About 22 percent of Medicaid +0 +5 +12 patients, including many with 605 3,722 2,527 complex health needs, are on a 7 see medicaidSeptember on B4 4, 2020 ©2020 THE WASHINGTON * Includes POST probable covid-19 deaths Virtual classes highlight digital divide USPS messages lead to confusion

Kids are gathering Gabrielle Alston, tries to use the BY JULIE ZAUZMER post office without it to pick up in the parking lots hotspot on her phone, but then his package containing a new outside schools, her data runs out. So she packs U.S. Postal Service customers Some are told their mail one after receiving the erroneous county libraries, up the kids and goes looking for a across the country have been is being held ‘at the notification. McDonald’s and better connection. Parking lots. receiving a notification that of- Postal Service spokespeople Starbucks. Family members’ homes. And by ten alarms and perplexes them: request of the customer’ did not answer questions from Petula From the hill then, half the lesson is over. The message says packages they The Washington Post about why Dvorak and holler of rural It’s the digital divide, expected delivered to their home customers are getting this mes- America to urban pandemic edition. And it’s or business are being held at a message. sage. One spokesman said he cityscapes, this is the new back- another social inequity, another post office “at the request of the Although the reality is that the could not answer without seeing to-school scene for some of about yawning gap between the haves customer.” mail carrier will deliver the pack- the tracking numbers. When The 12 million kids who don’t have and the have-nots that’s totally But customers who are receiv- age, sometimes the next day, Post provided tracking numbers the broadband Internet power to Toni L. Sandys/The Washington Post man-made. And solvable. ing these notifications never re- customers say the message has from two packages, the Postal get to virtual class, now that the One of the laptops that was It starts with hardware — quested that their mail be held. prompted them to visit the post Service did not respond. pandemic has shut down most provided to students in the D.C. that’s the easy part. The packages are delayed be- office to claim their items — even Vetose, who works for an in- in-person schools. area early in the coronavirus Maurice Cook did it on a grass- cause of broad changes Postmas- if they are concerned about ven- vestment firm, teleworks most of They sit in hot cars, some pandemic. roots scale in D.C., getting more ter General Louis DeJoy has turing out because of the corona- the week but goes to the office on switching the air conditioning on than 200 backpacks with laptops implemented to the nation’s mail virus pandemic — and has un- Mondays. He was anxiously and off to save fuel. Some just sit leaving him hanging during his and hotspots to school kids delivery operations, including dermined their faith in mail tracking a mask that was sup- on the asphalt using portable TV classes at Creative Minds through his nonprofit, Serve policies that slow down package delivery leading up to the 2020 posed to be delivered on a Friday. trays as desks, trying to find International Public Charter Your City. That’s in addition to delivery. When a mail carrier election. Late Friday evening, he saw shade while staying tethered to School. “I can’t hear anything on nearly 21,000 laptops the public cannot deliver a package on the “Shouldn’t it say that the carri- the message saying his package the signal. the computer, but when we’re in school system distributed. day it was scheduled because er couldn’t deliver it today be- was being held at his request. “I hate it,” said Gabriel Alston, real life, I can hear everyone. I But that’s only half the their shift is ending, postal work- cause time ran out? . . . The “I’m not sure if the carrier ran 8, whose apartment in the miss seeing real people.” problem. When classes are online ers say, the system sometimes message is incorrect,” said Ja- out of time, or, to be honest, they nation’s capital has low-quality When the janky Internet over Zoom — which your mom’s generates a misleading “held at maal Vetose of Baltimore County, decided they didn’t want to deliv- WiFi that’s always glitching, connection goes out, his mom, see dvorak on B3 the request of the customer” who lost his mask and visited the see packages on B5 VOLUME 20 ISSUE 1 An Integrated Curriculum of The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program

KIDSPOST Washington’s football team may at long last get a new name Owner Daniel Snyder said for years he wouldn’t change it, but he’s reconsidering.

It looks as if the Washington Redskins are going to change their name. Finally. Last week, the team announced that it will conduct a “thorough review” of the name. Most observers think this will lead to the team changing it. I have written several times, first in 2005, that the team should change its name. The term “Redskin,” after all, is a hurtful name for Native Americans. As any kid knows, it’s not nice to call people mean names. Daniel Snyder, who has owned the team since 1999, opposed changing the name. He claims the name honors Native Americans. In 2013, he said, “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use all caps.” The world, however, has changed. Recent events have made people more sensitive about symbols of racism, such as statues TONI L. SANDYS/THE WASHINGTON POST honoring Confederate generals who fought Native Americans protest the name and logo of the Washington Redskins in 2014. Daniel Snyder, who has owned the football team since 1999, for many years said he would not change the name, against the United States in the Civil War which he says honors Native Americans. Snyder recently announced that the organization would (1861 to 1865) to preserve slavery in their review the name. states. And sensitive to professional sports team do not change their names often. I found before the 1963 season because their owner names that are thoughtless labels for a group only a few times when a team changed its thought “Jets” sounded more modern. of people. name after it settled in a city. The Dallas team was almost called the So, if fans in Washington will soon be One of the original 14 NFL teams in 1920 “Steers” or the “Rangers” before it started rooting for a football team with a new name, was called the Decatur (Illinois) Staleys. playing as the Cowboys in 1960. what will it be? They were named after the sponsor of the We may get a say in naming the I looked at the names for all 32 teams team, the Staley starch company. The team Washington team. I found that 11 NFL in the National Football League (NFL). moved to Chicago in 1921 and played one teams conducted votes among their fans Fourteen teams have animal names, such as season as the Chicago Staleys. They changed before they selected the team name. Bears, Lions or Dolphins. Five of the animal their name to the Bears in 1922. I think Redhawks would be a cool name. names are bird names, such as Ravens or The Pittsburgh team started in 1933 as It’s shorthand for a red-tailed hawk, a bird Eagles. the Pirates. In 1940, the owner wanted a found in nearly all parts of North America. Seventeen more teams have names that fresh start for the team, which hadn’t had a But change the name. Anything is better describe a kind of person, such as Patriots, winning season. They became the Steelers. than Redskins. ■ Cowboys or Packers. The New York Jets were first called the — July 9, 2020 My research also revealed that NFL teams New York Titans. They changed their name

8 September 4, 2020 ©2020 THE WASHINGTON POST VOLUME 20 ISSUE 1 An Integrated Curriculum of The Washington Post Newspaper In Education Program Loudoun officials vote to remove ‘Silent Sentinel’ Statue will be returned to the United Daughters of the Confederacy

JAHI CHIKWENDIU/THE WASHINGTON POST Loudoun County officials voted to return this statue of a Confederate soldier outside the county courthouse to the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

returning it to the United Daughters of the The board on Tuesday unanimously by Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff Confederacy. agreed — although at least one board After a majority of the County Board of member said he only voted to return the • Originally Published July 10, 2020 Supervisors publicly signaled last month statue to the group, but otherwise opposed they would vote to remove the statue, the its removal. Loudoun County officials voted this United Daughters of the Confederacy, The statue is one of a growing number of week to remove a statue of a Confederate which paid for the statue, wrote to the Confederate monuments removed by local soldier from its place in front of the county county requesting it be taken down and governments or toppled by protesters amid courthouse where it has stood since 1908, returned to them. renewed calls for racial justice sparked by the

May killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis United Daughters of the Confederacy said happy with the county’s decision and saw police custody. The Confederate statue they were against the statue’s removal, it as a sign that officials didn’t want the “Appomattox,” which stood in Alexandria despite Randall’s efforts as chair. That statues being vandalized. The group has for 131 years, was removed last month by changed after the November election not yet set a date for the removal, he said, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, gave Democrats control of the board, although the county has said the group city spokesman Craig Fifer said. Richmond, Randall said, and the Virginia legislature must take the statue down by Sept. 7. the former capital of the Confederacy, also voted to allow localities to take down the Randall said she has gotten some has torn down Confederate statues. monuments amid a statewide reckoning pushback from constituents who disagree For Phyllis J. Randall (D-At Large), the with its Confederate past. with the statue’s removal. But, she said, first African American chair of the board The monument in front of the county while Confederate soldiers are a part of of supervisors, Tuesday’s vote was the courthouse in Leesburg, called “Silent history that should be remembered, that culmination of years of work to take the Sentinel,” depicts a Confederate history shouldn’t be commemorated with statue down. soldier holding a musket. A plaque at large statues in the town square. “This is the end of a very long fight. The the base reads: “In memory of the “History sits in books. History sits in statue should never have been put up,” she Confederate soldiers of Loudoun County.” museums. History sits in libraries and said. “People say, ‘Don’t you think you’re Michelle Thomas, president of the films,” Randall said. “There is an enormous erasing history?’ The truth is we are Loudoun chapter of the NAACP, said difference between understanding and correcting history.” she has also tried to get the monument recognizing history, versus celebrating But Supervisor Caleb A. Kershner removed for years. history. The idea of removing a statue (R-Catoctin) said he disagreed with the “It is overdue for the preservation erasing history — it just falls flat in its removal, only voting for the measure of justice and for the full truth of the face. This is a proud day.” ■ because the United Daughters of the American experience to be told in a way Confederacy requested its statue back. that we no longer glorify the oppressors,” This story has been updated to note that “It’s dishonest to say we have to tear this Thomas said. “It is a testament to who we the United Daughters of the Confederacy down because it was put up for oppressive are in Loudoun. While statues are being removed the “Appomattox” statue in reasons,” Kershner said. “We shouldn’t be toppled over in anger, we’re following the Alexandria last month. removing history from our public square. It’s rules of justice, to gain justice.” a very dangerous precedent that gets set.” Stephen Price, a lawyer for the United Rachel Chason contributed to this report. Last year, both the board and the Daughters of the Confederacy, said he was

EDUCATION Va. schools quickly lose Confederate names life that they let slide or just accepted as STUDENTS, ALUMNI, PARENTS PUSH CHANGE ‘that’s the way things are,’ ” said Dillon, 29. “That’s how it went for me, anyway, and my Historians: Wholesale rejection is unprecedented mind jumped right to the Loudoun County Raiders.” Historians said the wholesale rejection by Hannah Natanson Deirdre Dillon, white alumni of Loudoun of Confederate iconography by Virginia • Originally Published July 7, 2020 County High School, started just such a schools is unprecedented. But James petition against the Raiders on Juneteenth, Grossman, executive director of the Schools throughout Virginia are the holiday celebrating African Americans’ American Historical Association, said, shedding Confederate names and mascots, emancipation from slavery. They said “The rejection of the icons by black as officials face a burst of advocacy from the coronavirus pandemic, combined with students, parents and community leaders students, alumni and parents fueled by the the Floyd demonstrations, created the has a history that goes back to the renaming ongoing national reckoning over racism and injustice. Prince William County is renaming Stonewall Middle School, named after Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson, for a local black couple. After hours of debate, Loudoun County voted last month to remove the mascot for Loudoun County High School: the Raiders, named for Confederate Col. John S. Mosby’s troops, guerrilla-style fighters who wrought havoc on Union supply lines. And Fairfax County is now searching for a new name for one of its most diverse schools, Robert E. Lee High School — long ago informally re-christened “Lee High School” by embarrassed students who hoped peers from other places wouldn’t recognize the reference. Options for new titles, put forth by the superintendent in a recent email to families, include civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis (D- JAHI CHIKWENDIU/THE WASHINGTON POST Ga.), former president Barack Obama and An Arlington County high school last year became Washington-Liberty. civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. Often, schools’ names have fallen after perfect opportunity for change: People of the schools and the mascots themselves.” students or alumni started online petitions, were angry and stuck at home, and this That took place mostly in the 1950s and which garnered hundreds, and in some marked one of the only ways they could 1960s, Grossman said, as an angry reaction cases thousands, of signatures in the days speak out. to the Supreme Court’s seminal 1954 after the police killing of George Floyd “I think a lot of people, right now, are decision, Brown v. Board of Education, in Minneapolis in May. A.J. Jelonek and looking back and examining things in their which mandated the desegregation of public

schools nationwide. In response, angry and alumni had begun pushing to change “Our children have been stripped of white Southerners launched a program the name back in 2017. They got involved so much this year, between a meaningful of “massive resistance,” which included, in the effort last year. education, socialization with their in addition to more violent measures, After Floyd’s killing, Ismail, who is also peers and now a possible . . . mascot renaming schools and their mascots after black, decided she was fed up with waiting. removal,” said Carolyn Williams, parent to Confederates. She launched an online petition on June a high school senior, a middle-schooler and An analysis by Education Week found 6 that earned more than 1,000 signatures a kindergartner. “My senior athlete really that at least 191 schools in 18 states, almost in its first 24 hours. And she and Boateng cares about the Raiders.” all in the South, still bear the names of men wrote an open letter the next day to Schools But, like in Fairfax County, the vote, with links to the Confederacy, although Superintendent Scott Brabrand and the which took place close to 1 a.m., was historians said that’s almost certainly an Fairfax County School Board. unanimous. underestimate. The Education Week data Robert E. Lee “embodies the very heart of Hayley Loftur-Thun is still awaiting suggests Virginia has the second-highest racism,” they wrote. “The next graduating the final outcome of her petition in Falls count of these in the country at 23, trailing class [shouldn’t] have the misfortune of Church, which takes the battle beyond only Texas, with 45. having his name immortalized on their Confederate generals and calls for the Adam Domby, assistant professor diploma and remembered as their alma renaming of Thomas Jefferson Elementary of history at the College of Charleston mater.” School, where she attended first through and author of “The False Cause,” said Days later, the board voted unanimously fourth grade. white people at the time hoped to send a to change the name. The girls are far from Through research this summer, Loftur- clear message to black families trying to done, they said: With other young people, Thun, a 22-year-old student at Virginia integrate America’s school systems. they’re discussing ways to add more black Commonwealth University, learned that “It was trying to make black students history to school curriculums and ensure Jefferson exploited enslaved black boys feel unwelcome, while white students the school system hires more black teachers — between 10 and 16 years old — to staff and white communities were emboldened and administrators. his profitable nailery at Monticello. She to resist desegregation,” he said. “And it “Civil rights didn’t end with Martin Luther found records in which Jefferson wrote that helped instill a narrative of history that is King,” Ismail said. “The fight isn’t over, and he oversaw “all the details of [the boys’] false and celebrates white supremacy. . . . It the fight won’t be over for a long time.” business myself.” was teaching white students who is a hero, “We can’t stop at names,” Boateng “I’m not saying let’s erase Jefferson,” who is the perfect white gentleman worthy agreed. said Loftur-Thun, who is white. “All I’m of emulation.” Boateng and Ismail said they faced little saying is that it’s particularly inappropriate Kimberly Boateng, a 17-year-old black opposition throughout, from classmates or to name an elementary school after a man senior at what was formerly known as alumni. That wasn’t the case in Loudoun, who enslaved young boys.” Robert E. Lee High School in Springfield, where Jelonek, 28, and Dillon soon She has faced fierce opposition, said the name never made her feel noticed backlash from older graduates on including a letter to the editor in the local unwelcome. Her school is majority black, Facebook. Another white graduate, Shawn newspaper, often from older white men. Latino and Asian, with white students Carver, started a counter-petition calling But, through phone calls, she has managed making up just 16 percent of the student the mascot a “generic cowboy-like raider” to convince some opponents. She got her body in 2018-2019; she has always felt its and urging the county School Board to father, an initially skeptical history buff culture to be loving and accepting. “protect the legacy of thousands of students and Jefferson fan, on board, too. She loved walking the hallways, filled from being destroyed.” The Falls Church School Board has with diverse crowds, colorful in all senses He also noted the cost of a mascot taken no definitive action yet, although at of the word. But she didn’t like walking switch — school officials had estimated a its most recent meeting it discussed hiring past the gigantic painting of Gen. Robert price tag of $1 million — and argued the a consultant who could provide more E. Lee hung just by the school’s entrance. money could be better spent on boosting historical context. “One day I was sitting after school and online learning during the pandemic, or on Even if the name never changes, Loftur- the lobby was empty and I looked up and purchasing textbooks that do a better job Thun said, she will still feel proud she it was kind of menacing,” Boateng said. of capturing black history in America. His launched the petition. At least she started a “Then I walked to the plaque underneath it petition garnered close to 1,000 signatures, conversation. ■ and saw it was donated by the Daughters of and, Carver said, earned the support of the Confederacy. And suddenly I felt, ‘This students and alumni of all races and ages. Hannah Natanson is a reporter covering is ridiculous.’ ” At the heated virtual board meeting education and K-12 schools in Virginia. Boateng and her friend Kadija Ismail, on June 29, others gave more sentimental also 17 and a senior, knew some students reasons.

What Should We Be Called?

Many students and school boards are doing research on the places and people for whom their schools were named. Schools that are named for streets (Elm Street Elementary), parts of communities (Westlake Middle School) or directions (West High School) usually avoid extra attention. Those whose names are associated with historic events and figures are receiving scrutiny.

Do some research about your school name and community attitudes surrounding it.

1. What is the current official name of your school? A. In what year was this name officially selected? B. Who named the school? (School board, vote of students, other?) C. For what or whom was your school named?

2. Did your school have a previous name? If yes, explain its background. If no, move on to question 3.

3. In what way(s) does your school mascot reflect your community? A. What is the name of the mascot? B. What is the uniform or dress of the mascot? C. Does your mascot help to instill school pride? Explain your answer.

4. Does the name of a school or its mascot matter to students? A. Do most students know what the mascot is? Why it is your mascot? B. To what extent are the attitudes and actions taking place within its walls more important than its name?

5. In what way was your school impacted by the coronavirus? A. Did your school close early? Were Spring events cancelled or changed? B. Are you in school or distance learning? How does this influence school spirit? C. Have your school administrators or student body officers found a way to keep the spirit to unite and inspire students?

6. If you were to lead an effort to change the name of your school, what steps would you need to take? What factors need to be considered to make a change?

7. If a new school were built in your community, what name would you suggest? A. What are your main arguments for this name? B. What would the mascot be? Its name?

8. In what ways do students develop loyalty and pride in their school?