The Dallas Independent School District has recommended the immediate name change of four schools named after members of the Confederacy, but the DISD isn’t stopping there. They are “researching” 20 other school names to see if those need to be wiped away, as well, including those bearing the names of the Founding Fathers.
Initially, the board is going after these four schools because of the national debate over keeping memorials tied to the South’s side of the Civil War:
1. Albert Sidney Johnston Elementary School
2. William L. Cabell Elementary School
3. Stonewall Jackson Elementary School
4. Robert E. Lee Elementary School
DISD’s chief of school leadership, Stephanie Elizalde, explained how these names were chosen and how they will proceed in the future:
“This was just a very quick review of looking at the biographies of the individuals, and if there was any association with Confederacy — not making a judgment for or against — just if we saw Confederacy named in it, we then highlighted it. We are now in the process of doing a second [look].”
District 2 Trustee Dustin Marshall posted the full list on his Facebook page, including the larger list of schools that bear the names of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and even Benjamin Franklin. Though Franklin was a slave owner early on, he eventually freed his slaves and became an outspoken abolitionist and produced several writings on how to integrate the slaves into society.
Benjamin Franklin Middle School is in Marshall’s district and he doesn’t agree it should be renamed:
I will not support a name change for Franklin since Benjamin Franklin clearly had many accomplishments that form the basis for why the school was named after him. I don’t believe this school was named after Franklin to send a signal of oppression and control.
Texans are upset over many schools on the list, including one named after its former governor, Sam Houston, who secured independence for Texas from Mexico and opposed secession during the Civil War, which cost him his governorship.
“Sam Houston?!?! William B Travis??? Now we oppose the Texas Revolution?” one commenter stated.
“Travis and Bowie died at the Alamo, and Houston was drummed out of office because he opposed secession. What are the grounds for inclusion on this list?” another stated.
Because of the backlash, Elizalde had to clarify the DISD’s position:
“We are on a very short list, because we want to take action on the names that carry more significant negative meaning, and send the message to the community that we are going to do this in an expedited manner. Right now, the best use of our time is take actions on the ones we know.”
"If [the school] was named for the single purpose of promoting white supremacy, then it should be changed,” Elizalde said.
The cost to rename each school depends on the marquee on campus, but estimates show anywhere between $25,000 to $100,000 per school. That’s money that could go to teachers and/or materials, but why do something that actually helps the students learn?