Description
Effingham County High School is one of two public high schools located in Effingham County, Georgia, northwest of Savannah. The school was created in 1956 and serves approximately 2000 students in grades 9-12 in the Effingham County School District. The school mascot is the Rebel, and the school colors are red, navy, and white.
Excerpt from...
Effingham County High School will keep nickname ‘Rebels’ - Savannah Morning News - Aug 25, 2015
"The Effingham school system will keep using the nickname “Rebels” at Effingham County High School and will make sure that sports uniforms have an “E” rather than a caricature of a Confederate soldier.
School Superintendent Randy Shearouse said he doesn’t anticipate any other action being taken on the topic - at least not anytime soon. That means two drawings of the Confederate soldier on signs will remain inside the school, the band will still play “Dixie” and students will still be allowed to carry Confederate flags at sporting events."
"An NAACP speaker at the Aug. 18 meeting held up caps from recent school baseball teams that had the caricature of the Confederate soldier."
"Regarding students carrying Confederate flags at sporting events, Shearouse said he does not anticipate any changes.
“There would be issues if we restricted that,” he said. “People do still have rights.”
“Effingham County High School will continue using the rebel name not as a name of hate, but as a name associated with pride in one’s school and its traditions,” Shearouse said in the news release."
"Lloyd said about 60 people from the NAACP met in Guyton on Monday night, vowing to fight against the Confederate symbols and creating committees to increase involvement in the school system."
"Francys Johnson, president of the Georgia NAACP, said the group would consider carefully before taking any legal action."
Francys Johnson, President of the Georgia State NAACP released a statement on AUGUST 18, 2015:
“Images are powerful. Images shade our perceptions, code our implicit biases, and help us interpret the environment. The Confederate Flag (Stars and Bars) is a powerful image. It evokes different messages to different people. In the wake of the massacre of 9 churchgoers murdered because they were black by a confederate flag wearing racist thug bent on a self-confessed mission of “starting a race war”, the chats of heritage or hate resound through the country. When does an image become so associated with a heinous act and actors that it loses any prior nobler relevance?
I want to be clear. I do not believe that every American who has displayed the Confederate flag endorses slavery as an economic and social order, treason as a solution, and bigotry as a value system. Yet, to many people of all hues and backgrounds; it now symbolizes America’s original sin. Albeit, there are sincere patriots reading this message who will continue to insist that the Confederate flag is only a remembrance of the valor of their ancestors. That may be a truth that particular individual. However, an honest person cannot deny the larger social implications and ugly connotations the flag and rebel imagery convey.
Unfortunately for those who believe the flag represents something honorable it was your silence and not the NAACP’s very vocal opposition that brings us to this point in our history. Over the decades, the Confederate flag’s appropriation by traitors, Nazis, the Klan, and bigots has provoked very little noticeable protest from the honorable folks who claim a deep and abiding “respect” for Southern heritage. In short, you should have demanded that the exponents of white supremacy stop using the Confederate flag a long time ago in their so-called Christian zeal to exact racialized terrorism on their neighbors. It was the primary symbol of reign of domestic terrorism during Jim Crow that was the impetus for the birth of the NAACP. The truth is more folks were lynched under the Confederate flag than died under the United State flag on September 11th.
To the southern patriot, your symbol of heritage was ruined because you did not demand that Jesse Helms, David Dukes, and the uptown Klan in business suits known as the White Citizens Council stop appropriating it for their hate. Your silence gave consent. It cannot be denied that the Charleston massacre has left the Confederate flag standing irrevocably for the most brutal and criminal aspects of that heritage — and it is more deeply irreconcilable with American patriotism than ever.
It’s time for the Confederate flag and the glorification of rebel culture that fought to maintain slavery and Jim Crow as an economic and social order to surrender. If we want closure on a 150 year old chapter in American history; we must unite under the American flag as true patriots. In fact, that would be a good name and mascot for the Effingham County High School currently embroiled in a debate on the use of the Confederate flag and rebel imagery. I say change the mascot to the Effingham County Patriots! Replace the Stars and Bars with the Stars and Stripes!”
A STATEMENT FROM THE SCHOOL IN 2015
Full Release.
The Effingham County Board of Education prides itself as a leading school system in the state of Georgia. Opportunities abound for all students to be successful in whatever course in life they choose to follow.
The recent concern over the rebel name at Effingham County High School has brought attention to a great high school with not only a tradition, but a vision where every child is successful.
The Effingham County School System was proactive years ago and started using the "E" as our official logo or symbol. All uniforms, both school and athletic should only have this approved "E" and the school system will ensure adherence to this rule. All official signs and scoreboards located around campus have the official "E".
There are some artifacts that are part of the school's history that remain such as a sign given by the class of 1982, a few small items in a trophy case in honor of a beloved past coach, and a painted phrase and caricature commissioned by a past principal in the 1990s.
As it has in the past, the Effingham County Board of Education willingly listens to the concerns of all stakeholders. We truly need and welcome everyone's involvement to continue our progress.
Effingham County High School will continue using the rebel name not as a name of hate, but as a name associated with pride in one's school and its traditions.
Fortunately, even with the distractions outside of school this past week, our student body has behaved admirably. They have pride in Effingham County High School and respect for each other.
Thanks again for your continued support of the school system.
Notable Alumni
- Paul Carrington, former NFL defensive end (Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons)
- Billy Currington, country music singer
- Dusty Zeigler, former NFL center (Buffalo Bills, NY Giants)