The names of Winston Churchill, the British prime minister who guided Britain through World War II, and Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling have been axed as school ‘house’ names at one British school in an attempt to promote diversity.
According to the Belfast Telegraph, “Holy Trinity Church of England Primary School in Richmond has renamed houses honouring Britain’s wartime leader and Harry Potter author after footballer Marcus Rashford and nurse Mary Seacole.”
Churchill, who at one point stood nearly alone against the encroachments of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, will be removed, and Rashford, a 24-year-old soccer player for Manchester United will take his place.
Last month, a newsletter was sent out to explain the decision to cut Churchill and Rowling’s names. It explained how students at the primary school were “keen” to be “more diverse.”
“The children across school have been keen to change some of the names of the school houses to be more diverse,” the school explained, “We are pleased to be able to announce the name changes during Black History Month. Churchill has been replaced by Rashford and Rowling by Seacole.”
The school’s headteacher explained that the changing of the names was something that students at the school started thinking about last year.
“The changing of our school’s house names was an activity that our children began discussing last year as they did not feel the names reflected the diverse community of our school,” Alison Bateman said.
According to the Daily Mail, the once-beloved Churchill has come under fire in recent years in England, with even pictures of the former prime minister being taken off of the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust, which will also be renamed.
Rowling, the author of the bestselling Harry Potter books, has also drawn a lot of criticism to date. The ire toward her is because of comments and positions she took on transgenderism.
Both Rowling and Churchill were targeted at British schools earlier this year as well.
Seaford Head School in East Sussex in February removed the names of the two from ‘houses’ after students complained about them being ‘intolerant.’ According to The Telegraph, their names would be replaced by “new titles based on local topography.”
Students accused Churchill of “torture” and racism and faulted Rowling as not a “suitable representative” because of her comments about transgenderism.
“Churchill was a figure who promoted racism and inequality, unfairly imprisoning and torturing many,” said students of the wartime leader. Historians have hit back at claims against Churchill and defended him from criticism.
“Parents of children at Seaford School, and anyone considering sending their children there in future, need to know that the historical knowledge there is so abysmally low that the teachers believe that Winston Churchill committed crimes of which he was in fact entirely innocent,” said historian Andrew Roberts.
Roberts added, “Instead of trying to combat woke ignorance, they have submitted to it without trying to discover the truth. Churchill is in fact an incredibly inspirational figure for youth.”