Aguilar, Charlotte. “ Confederate connection could mean name change for Lanier MS.”
InstantNewsWestU.com. InstantNewsWestU.com, 12 January 2016. Web. 24 March
2016.
PUBLICATION: “InstantNewsNetwork.com publishes InstantNewsWestU.com, InstantNewsFortBend.com (Fort BendNow.com),InstantNewsKaty.com, InstantNewsBellaire.com, InstantNewsGalveston.com, I nstantNewsPearland.com,InstantNewsHouston.com and West U and Bellaire Essentials magazines. Our award-winning journalists have a living knowledge of the communities we serve to bring its readership a continuous stream of the latest local news through its online news sites and community magazines” (taken from “Contact Us” page at InstantNewsWestU.com). In sum, InstantNewsWestU.com is a neighborhood news outlet with credible, professional staff.
AUTHOR: “A familiar figure in local community journalism was named editor of the West University and Bellaire Essentials magazines and their corresponding InstantNewsWestU.com and InstantNewsBellaire.com websites and social media. Charlotte Aguilar is the former editor of the Examiner Newspaper Group, with editions in West U, Bellaire, River Oaks/Montrose and Memorial, and has written about southwest Houston communities for more than 25 years. Under her guidance, the West U Examiner was named Best Community Newspaper by the Houston Press” (http://www.instantnewswestu.com/2015/06/30/49883/--article regarding her appointment at InstantNewsWestU.com as a new editor).
SUMMARY: Aguilar reports on the upcoming Jan. 14 Houston ISD board of trustees meeting which focused on “whether to approve the renaming of eight schools — including Sidney Lanier Middle School — whose namesakes had ties to the Confederacy.” As suggested by the quotes Aguilar includes, the article suggests that people should focus on the positive aspect of Lanier’s life instead of the past and because he was a gifted and talented person and was especially known for his music, and writing. He was more than just a soldier.
Use: We don’t believe this is controversial and we don’t believe in focusing on the bad aspects of his life; he did great things. We will use the statements of some of the school’s staff to show that they do not see the name as a problem, since Lanier was celebrated.
Notable Quotes/Information:
Jim Henley “Longtime Lanier speech and debate coach…who said he is a ‘liberal’ who has supported the removal of names of Confederate politicans [sic] and generals from other facilities — disputed Lanier’s leadership and opposes the name change.”
A Facebook post from Henley: “He was so much more than a soldier … Sidney Lanier was a renaissance man. He was a musician, lawyer, educator, and a renowned poet. His poetry expressed his desire to see reconciliation between the North and the South after the Civil War.”
Edith Moore “an honored African-American teacher who recently retired from Lanier after 34 years in the classroom there.”
“‘I think that if we dig back in the pasts of everyone…there will always be skeletons to turn over … We would probably have to change every dedicated structure in the world based on what we discover.’ She suggested the board ‘focus on the positive aspects of Sidney Lanier’s life and not on the negatives of the past.’”
Lanier Principal Felicia Adams “In a district as large and diverse as HISD, it is imperative that our schools respectfully represent our students and school communities, while also honoring our history and traditions,” Principal Adams wrote. “If the measure is approved, we plan to work closely with the district to ensure our school community has a voice in the decision making process and recommends a name that truly represents the mission, spirit, culture, and success of our campus.”
Other:
“An HISD media release said the renaming is being considered ‘in order to represent the values and diversity of the school district, in accordance with the district’s non-discrimination policies.’”
“Sidney Lanier was anything but a ‘Confederate leader,’ say those opposed to changing the name of the 90-year-old school.” (this is a caption under his photo)