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Community Feedback Sought for Magruder Elementary Renaming

Local residents gather to discuss the potential renaming of Magruder Elementary School.

News Summary

The York County School Division is seeking community input on potentially renaming Magruder Elementary School due to its ties to Confederate General John Bankhead Magruder. The decision to solicit feedback comes after concerns over the appropriateness of the school’s name, historically linked to actions during the Civil War and a former Black community displaced for Camp Peary. The deadline for responses is July 18. This initiative highlights ongoing discussions on the reevaluation of historical names in education.

Yorktown, Virginia – The York County School Division is soliciting feedback from the community regarding the potential renaming of Magruder Elementary School due to its connection with Confederate General John Bankhead Magruder. Responses to the feedback survey are due by July 18, and this initiative follows ongoing discussions over the appropriateness of the school’s name given the historical context associated with Magruder.

Concerns have arisen regarding Magruder’s legacy, as he was involved in severe actions during the Civil War, including the burning of the town of Hampton in 1861 and the capturing and killing of runaway slaves. Additionally, there are links between the school’s name and a former Black community known as Magruder, which was displaced for the establishment of Camp Peary.

A grassroots activist group known as the Campaign for Honorable and Inclusive School Names is actively advocating for the renaming of the school. This group previously attempted to change the name of James Blair Middle School in the Williamsburg-James City County School division; however, that effort did not move forward following a public survey.

The York County School Division Board recently discussed the renaming during a meeting and decided to seek further public comments. Ongoing discussions have taken place since at least fall 2022, reflecting concerns about continuing to honor a historical figure associated with the Confederacy. Some community members have argued that the school is not directly named after the general since his first name is not included; nevertheless, the historical evidence suggests that the school’s name leads back to General Magruder, who named a military fort after himself during the Peninsula Campaign.

Historical reviews reveal that a federal school named Fort Magruder School was established near the site of the former community. Additionally, in 1920, a school was opened in the area under the name Magruder School, which was later closed in 1942. A temporary structure operated until the current Magruder Elementary School was constructed in 1951.

In a related move, the city of Hampton renamed Magruder Boulevard to Neil Armstrong Parkway in 2021 as part of a larger effort to address historical names associated with the Confederacy. During recent school board meetings, there have been growing concerns that renaming Magruder Elementary could lead to broader reconsiderations of other school names within the district.

Board Chair Kimberly S. Goodwin emphasized the significance of public input in the renaming process before any decisions are made. Potential options for surveying residents might be presented as early as the May 19 meeting or possibly during another meeting on June 2.

This discussion around renaming Magruder Elementary highlights the ongoing reevaluation of historical figures and names in school systems across the country, reflecting a broader movement towards inclusivity and recognition of diverse histories. As the deadline for community feedback approaches, the York County School Division seeks to gather views from local residents to inform its final decision on this sensitive issue.