Vestavia Hills Board of Ed. Stands By Rebel Name

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2016/04/1_rebel.png
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:1500;s:6:"height";i:1500;s:4:"file";s:19:"2016/04/1_rebel.png";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-140x140.png";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-336x336.png";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:336;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-771x771.png";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:771;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:17:"1_rebel-80x80.png";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-600x338.png";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-300x300.png";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-311x311.png";s:5:"width";i:311;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-265x265.png";s:5:"width";i:265;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:19:"1_rebel-125x125.png";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:9:"image/png";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:0;s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";i:0;s:3:"iso";i:0;s:13:"shutter_speed";i:0;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";i:0;}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Knight Eady
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:352641;s:14:"optimized_size";i:61036;s:7:"percent";d:82.689999999999998;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:47:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel.png";s:13:"original_size";i:32798;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19010;s:7:"percent";d:42.039999999999999;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-140x140.png";s:13:"original_size";i:3916;s:14:"optimized_size";i:1291;s:7:"percent";d:67.030000000000001;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-336x336.png";s:13:"original_size";i:19844;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3498;s:7:"percent";d:82.370000000000005;}s:5:"large";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-771x771.png";s:13:"original_size";i:207282;s:14:"optimized_size";i:22332;s:7:"percent";d:89.230000000000004;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-338x338.png";s:13:"original_size";i:35187;s:14:"optimized_size";i:5143;s:7:"percent";d:85.379999999999995;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-300x300.png";s:13:"original_size";i:3569;s:14:"optimized_size";i:1210;s:7:"percent";d:66.099999999999994;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-311x311.png";s:13:"original_size";i:28427;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4458;s:7:"percent";d:84.319999999999993;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-265x265.png";s:13:"original_size";i:19362;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3289;s:7:"percent";d:83.010000000000005;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:55:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2016/04/1_rebel-125x125.png";s:13:"original_size";i:2256;s:14:"optimized_size";i:805;s:7:"percent";d:64.319999999999993;}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1652439110 
1598962677

The Vestavia Hills Board of Education is again resisting calls to drop “Rebels” from the high school’s name. In 2015, the board decided that the school system would drop the Rebel Man mascot and rebrand after critics said it was too closely associated with the Confederacy.

But for many alumni, that wasn’t enough. Dozens of Vestavia Hills graduates have renewed the effort to drop the Rebel name. Holly Metcalf graduated from Vestavia Hills High School in 1999. She remembers attending football games where replicas of the confederate flag were used to show school spirit. 

“Taking away the imagery doesn’t change the meaning of the word,” she said. “We all know it was a Confederate rebel. We all know this term was associated with the Confederacy.” 

Metcalf does not see a benefit to keeping the name, adding that removal would lead to progress on racial issues within the school system, instead of sweeping them under the rug.

Lisa Baker, president of the Vestavia Hills Board of Education, said since the school’s rebranding the rebel name has taken on a new meaning. 

“If you look at the culture of the school, you will see that it really represents a determination and a commitment to rise above those things that we know challenge all students, such as bullying, prejudice and injustice,” she said. 

Baker said, for Vestavia Hills’ students, being a Rebel means defying cultural norms and expectations. 

But some alumni aren’t buying it. 

A private Facebook group called “Drop Rebel from VHHS” was created in June. The group has since started a petition and several people spoke out during a school board meeting last week. However, Baker said school officials have no intention of removing the Rebel name.

 

And the winner of the 2025 Tiny Desk Contest is…

NPR Music's Robin Hilton announces the name of this year's Tiny Desk Contest winner. Every year since 2015, a different unsigned musician or band has benefited from the exposure that NPR Music provides.

First, relief. Then, a scramble to get stuff in after U.S. cuts China tariffs for now

Although business owners welcomed a temporary deal with China to slash tariffs, there's still considerable uncertainty about what happens next.

Republicans face a crucial stretch this week as they aim to deliver on Trump’s agenda

Three key committees are putting pen to paper on Trump's "big, beautiful bill." But lawmakers are at odds over policies with far-reaching impacts on Americans' wallets and for many, their healthcare.

Texas farmers struggle as Mexico and U.S. wrestle with water from the Rio Grande treaty

Recently, Mexico began sending more water to the U.S. to uphold its end of a nearly 80-year-old treaty that spells out how two countries share water. But farmers and water experts say the new agreement won't be enough.

Experts warn Congress cuts to addiction funding will mean more overdose deaths

A broad coalition of addiction experts wants Congress to maintain healthcare funding for the nation's response to fentanyl and other street drugs.

Chiefs superfan ‘ChiefsAholic’ sentenced to 32 years in Oklahoma prison

A Kansas City Chiefs superfan known as "ChiefsAholic" was sentenced Monday in an Oklahoma courtroom to serve 32 years in state prison for robbing a Tulsa-area bank.

More Front Page Coverage