Northeast Independent School District
Robert E. Lee High School
Less than a month after San Antonio’s North East Independent School District board unanimously voted to rename Robert E. Lee High School, the district set up a survey for people to submit new name ideas. On Monday, the board made the survey's 2,443 submissions public.
The results are what you'd expect from the internet: “Schooly McSchoolface” took home 45 votes, submissions that mentioned "Hitler" hit 80, and "no change" racked up more than 100 submissions.
Only about 20 percent, or 542, of the submissions will actually be considered by the board. Although the district decided against posting the unabridged list because it “would not be appropriate,” the list of suggestions that may be considered can be found here. None of them include a person's name.
After the violent, pro-Confederate rally in Charlottesville on August 12 shook the nation, 19-year-old Gianno Gomez started a petition to rename the school. "Having the name of a Confederate general on a place of learning is shameful," he wrote.
The petition was signed by 3,763 people, prompting NEISD to hold a special meeting to reconsider the school's name. They ultimately voted to change it on August 30, and the board will consider the list of suggestions on October 9.
The board had asked for submissions to be “wholesome” and based on an idea, rather than a person, in hopes it could “stand the test of time,” — requirements either almost no one read or almost no one cared about.
Some suggested "Harper Lee", "Stan Lee" or “Bruce Lee” high school, probably because the school could still be referred to as “Lee” for short.
Others suggested the name just be shortened to “Lee High School” or use a “LEE” acronym, like “LEADERS EXHIBITING EXCELLENCE,” or “Legacy of Educational Excellence.” Many of those did make it through to the 542 submissions the board will actually be considering.
Some that didn't: “SNOWFLAKE HIGH SCHOOL #1,” “School of don’t want to hurt anyones feelings,” “Liberal Hysteria High School,” “History Killer High School,” “Politically Correct H.S.,” and “Take this New High School Name and Shove it!”
“We appreciate everyone who took the time to submit appropriate names that met the criteria,” said Aubrey Chancellor, a spokesperson for NEISD. “It was disappointing to see so many inappropriate and racist submissions.”
Unfortunately, the board will not consider renaming the school “Gregg Popovich High School,” even though, with 72 votes, he was the person with the highest number of suggestions.
That is, after Hitler.
