STA

A letter writer in yesterday's newspaper raised the question of renaming Robert E. Lee High School.

Local World War II heroes Thomas Howie and Jacob Manch are possible new honorees, as is Staunton native Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of health and leader of the Human Genome Project. Other names may belong on the list.

Renaming beloved schools and professional teams — especially those carrying the moniker of a historic figure — can be dicey and emotional. But in this case the question is worth careful consideration, especially if Staunton builds a new high school and even if it doesn't.

This past school year, 17 percent of Staunton city school students were African-American. If the slate were wiped clean, would they and their schoolmates choose to name their school after a Confederate general? Or would they select someone more current, perhaps a product of Staunton city schools, as Collins is?

When Staunton schools integrated, was there serious thought to naming the integrated school Booker T. Washington High School? Of course not. The integrated school automatically took the name of the white school.

Today sound decisions are made with more consideration of all students. Some derisively call that "political correctness." We call it common courtesy.

And while we appreciate tradition, doing something only because it has always been done that way is weak justification, especially if there are better options. Life changes and perspectives shift. Tradition that comforts and strengthens is good. Tradition that discomforts is not.

As Staunton thinks about what kind of school best serves our future students, we hope our current students take the opportunity to consider new possibilities and our community responds not with knee-jerk reactions that a name change would dishonor a revered man, but with support for hailing heroes of most recent centuries.

Let's rename Lee High

Our View represents the majority opinion of the newspaper's editorial board, Roger Watson, president and publisher; David Fritz, executive editor; and Deona Landes Houff, community conversations editor.