I certainly sympathize with the strong emotions expressed, but I think it’s important to remember that these are things that local communities live with and must examine and debate within a time frame of their own choosing. Nathan Bedford Forrest … Overview. Reviews. The school board voted 7-0 Monday to change the name of Nathan B. Forrest High School after the current school year ends. COMMENTARY | Nathan Bedford Forrest High School in Jacksonville, Florida was named for the most feared cavalry leader the Confederates produced during the American Civil War. Photos. The documentary provides more evidence that we are moving beyond the old battle lines of north v. south and white v. black regarding our attitudes toward the symbolism of the Civil War. My observation is that the kids represent a distinct group from the adults in the community unless you can provide additional evidence. Statues and other memorials are one thing, part of our past and identity as we’ve discussed elsewhere here; but the names of public schools are quite another, and I see absolutely no reason why the state or even the federal govt shouldn’t step in and change the name to anything that isn’t explicitly connected to one of our worst national terrorists. Kevin, you write: It became more of a personal crusade as opposed to an academic exercise and one which I find troubling. Of course, I am only working on the information provided in the video. Nathan Bedford Forrest High School, Jacksonville, Florida. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Su 5 Star Rating by a Student (1965 - 1966) by: Mike Manley. It is an occupational hazard for all lawyers. Does your High School Class have a full-featured Alumni Website? Now citizens of that community are demanding that the name be changed. Thanks for the comment. The school was established in 1959 and was originally named Nathan B. Forrest High School, after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a Confederate general and first Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. The center of the story is Professor Steve Stoll, who encouraged a couple of his students to take on the project to fulfill a class requirement. I’d be happy to hear them. Good for him for trying to make a difference. Unless you have additional information, the students decided to keep the name of the school. You can follow me on Twitter. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nathan-Bedford-Forrest The fact that the school was named for Forrest was a point of significant controversy until the Duval County School Board changed the name in 2014. Namesake. It is part of the Duval County School District and serves Jacksonville's Westside. In 2008, the Duval County School Board voted 5–2 against a push to change the name of Nathan Bedford Forrest High School in Jacksonville. As recently as 2007, the local school board continued to defy all pressure to change it. What next? All rights reserved. In 1841 Forrest went into busines… Discussions and Reviews. Copyright (c) 2005-2020 by Kevin M. Levin. This high school in Jacksonville, Florida is named after confederate general, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Nathan Bedford Forest was no Robert E. Lee. Nathan B. Forrest High School in Jacksonville will soon be known as something else after the community made clear to the Duval County Public School Board that they wanted the school … And Forrest’s terrorist actions had decidedly national effects and meanings (just ask D.W. The controversy regarding use of the name Nathan Bedford Forrest reached its peak in 1998 where Richard Donaldson and Harry Zeigler were taken to court for openly protesting the use of his name and sued the school district for one hundred thousand dollars. Nathan Bedford Forrest High School (Jacksonville, Florida) — Nathan Bedford Forrest High School Nathan B. Forrest Coat of Arms Motto Exceeding expectations …   Wikipedia, Nathan Bedford Forrest State Park — Park entrance sign along TN 191 Type Tennessee State Park Location Benton County, Tennessee …   Wikipedia, Nathan Bedford Forrest — For the World War II General, see Nathan Bedford Forrest III. The case was dismissed by the judge and no further proceedings on this matter have arisen. The center of the story is Professor Steve Stoll, who encouraged a couple of his … I had the opposite reaction – Stoll strikes me as an engaged teacher who cares about his students and the community in which he lives. Its feeder schools are, according to the sometimes unreliable Wikipedia, JEB Stuart and Jefferson Davis Middle Schools. Everyone stay safe. Forrest School (Chapel Hill, Tennessee), named for Nathan Bedford Forrest Nathan B. Forrest High School, former name of Westside High School in Jacksonville, Florida This disambiguation page lists articles about schools, colleges, or other educational institutions which … Like I said in my previous response, this post was not meant to redeem anyone. Whether they were subjected to NCLB is irrelevant. I really enjoy your approach here. Again, can’t change the history, but can and should change the name, as soon as possible. Like the debate over the Confederate flag in Lexington, this is a matter for the local community to sort out. The Nathan Bedford Forrest High School in Jacksonville, Florida, founded 54 years ago, will change its name from that of the Ku Klux Clan's first grand wizard from the start of the next school year in August. Phone: (931) 246-4733. This was i believe from a Savannah Ga competition back in 1983. 5 Star Rating by a Student (1965 - 1966) by: Mike Manley. “The Times-Union received a copy of a March 2007 poll that showed the school’s students were nearly split on the issue. The creation of this Facebook page is for the students and/or alumni who have attended Nathan Bedford Forrest High School. That’s my take, at least, and I’ll stop commenting now! Discussions. He and his twin sister, Fanny, were the two eldest of blacksmith William Forrest's twelve children with wife Miriam Beck. Even though the school community is predominantly black they voted not to change the name, not because they  revere Forrest, but because they have other things on their mind [[9:30]. It’s a bizarre fiberglass monstrosity that many of us here in Music City would like to see taken down purely for aesthetic purposes…, http://tinycatpants.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/have-we-been-wrong-about-the-nathan-bedford-forrest-statue/. Of 1,029 students surveyed, 53 percent said they wanted to keep the name. Instead of lamenting on not being able to bring about his desired result, perhaps he should have had his students analyze the data more thoroughly. A previous attempt to change the Florida school's name was struck down by the school board in 2007. Discussions. The kids have moved on. Please do not reprint original material from this blog without permission. I am simply focusing our attention on the fact that perceptions of the past evolve and that our standard narratives of how these debates play out fail to shed light. In short, memory of Forrest is a battle ground that engages their parents and grandparents. The center of the story is Professor Steve Stoll, who encouraged a couple of his … If we assume that many of those surveyed were parents, etc. Forrest is popular… …   Wikipedia, Bedford (disambiguation) — Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire. Please understand that I am not making an argument as to why the name of the school should be changed or retained. But the bottom line for me is this: this public school is named after the founder (or one of the chief founders) of the KKK. Forrest opened in 1959 in the Wesconnett neighborhood of Jacksonville, at the site of present-day J. E. B. Stuart Middle School. This also means that the African American students in the film depicted as supporting keeping the name were a minority of African Americans at the school, although the film focuses on them. Write a Review. As one of the students says, this was part of a pattern of taunting blacks that he says continues to this day. .) Nathan Bedford Forrest High School is the name of two high schools in the United States. 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