Arkansas schools with confederate names discuss next steps

[struggle4progress]

By Bill Bowden
This article was published September 3, 2017 at 4:30 a.m.

Arkansas has a few schools named after people associated with the Confederacy, but there's been little call to change those names, contrary to calls in other parts of the country.

Jim Rollins, superintendent of Springdale schools, said he's had "a minimal number of complaints" about the name of Robert E. Lee Elementary School, which opened in 1951 and is the oldest school in use in Springdale. He wouldn't give a specific number but said the complaints amounted to "less than a handful."

But with the political climate in the nation and Confederate statues being removed in several cities, the issue deserves attention, he said.

"I think it's an important issue and one that we are studying," said Rollins. "But we've got to make sure we don't cause more problems than we cure. ... The whole issue obviously is very emotionally charged" ...

http://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2017/sep/03/so-far-in-arkansas-rebel-icons-names-on-1/

[samnsara]

1. here in central Washington State we have a Robert E Lee school....why??

[ileus]

2. Here in Virginia all state workers get paid to celebrate the confederacy.

Until this state stops paying people to celebrate Lee Jackson day, I'll just take the protests of statues and names of schools as faux poutrage.