I went to Jefferson Davis Junior High School, which opened in West Palm Beach, Fla., in 1961. It was at this school that I first heard of President Andrew Jackson’s support of the forced Indian Removal Act of 1830. Even at the age of 13, I knew this was as horrifying as the support of slavery by my school’s namesake. It took until 2006 for the Palm Beach County School Board to consider changing the name of the school.
I am so proud of the Salt Lake City School Board for voting unanimously to change the name of Jackson Elementary and honoring Mary W.