Guilford County Schools votes on name for new elementary school – wfmynews2.com

Report on the Establishment of Peeler-Hampton Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School and its Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction

The Guilford County Schools Board of Education has formally approved the name for a new visual and performing arts elementary school, to be called the Peeler-Hampton Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School. This new institution, scheduled to open in the fall, replaces the former Peeler Open Elementary, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2018. The establishment and naming of this school represent a significant investment in community development, aligning with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Contribution to SDG 4: Quality Education

The new school is a direct contribution to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.

• Enhanced Learning Infrastructure: The construction of a new facility provides a modern, safe, and effective learning environment.
• Specialized Arts Curriculum: By focusing on visual and performing arts, the school offers a specialized curriculum that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness, diversifying the educational landscape in Guilford County.
• Equitable Access: The school will serve the local community, ensuring children have access to quality primary education in their neighborhood.

Contribution to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The project strongly supports the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable while reducing inequality.

1. Resilient Infrastructure: Rebuilding on the site of a school destroyed by a natural disaster demonstrates a commitment to creating resilient community infrastructure (SDG 11).
2. Honoring Inclusive History: The school’s name honors two significant local figures, reinforcing community identity and promoting social inclusion (SDG 10).
   • Rev. Silas Peeler: As president of Bennett College (1905-1913), a historically black college for women, his legacy is tied to advancing educational opportunities, particularly for women, which also touches upon SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
   • Dr. William M. Hampton: As a physician, Board of Education member, and the first Black person elected to the Greensboro City Council, honoring him acknowledges the historic contributions of Black leaders and promotes a narrative of justice and reduced inequality.

Contribution to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

The process and outcome of the school’s establishment reflect the principles of effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions.

• Effective Governance: The decision by the Guilford County Schools Board of Education exemplifies a functioning and responsive local institution working to serve its community’s needs.
• Promoting Justice and Inclusion: By deliberately choosing a name that honors a pioneer who broke racial barriers in local government, the institution actively promotes the values of a just and inclusive society.

Conclusion

The establishment of the Peeler-Hampton Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School is more than the construction of a new building; it is a strategic initiative that aligns with global sustainability targets. It advances quality education (SDG 4), fosters a resilient and inclusive community (SDG 10 & 11), and is a product of strong, just institutions (SDG 16). The school is poised to become a cornerstone of educational excellence and community pride in Greensboro.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article’s central theme is the establishment of a new public elementary school, the “Peeler-Hampton Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School.” This directly contributes to providing access to primary education for children in Greensboro. The school’s specific focus on visual and performing arts also points towards a curriculum aimed at providing a diverse and quality education.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The article discusses the construction of a new school building on the site of a previous one. A school is a critical piece of social infrastructure. The act of building a new facility aligns with the goal of developing quality and reliable infrastructure to support human well-being.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The school is co-named after Dr. William M. Hampton, who is noted as “the first Black person elected to Greensboro City Council.” This act of naming a public institution after a prominent Black leader serves to honor and recognize the contributions of racial minorities, promoting social inclusion and acknowledging historical significance.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article explicitly states that the new school replaces the “Peeler Open Elementary, which was destroyed by a tornado in 2018.” This directly relates to making communities more resilient and recovering from natural disasters by rebuilding essential community infrastructure like schools.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The decision to name the school was made by the “Guilford County Schools Board of Education” during a formal meeting. This demonstrates the functioning of a local public institution responsible for education. The inclusive naming choice reflects a responsive and representative decision-making process.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 4.1: “By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education…”
   • The article announces the opening of a new public elementary school, which directly contributes to the provision of free and accessible primary education within the community.
2. Target 4.7: “By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including… appreciation of cultural diversity and culture’s contribution to sustainable development.”
   • The school’s focus on “visual and performing arts” promotes culture’s contribution to development. Furthermore, naming the school after Rev. Peeler and Dr. Hampton promotes an appreciation of local history and cultural diversity.
3. Target 4.a: “Build and upgrade education facilities that are… safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.”
   • The article describes the construction of a “new school” to replace one that was destroyed. This is a direct example of building a new educational facility to provide a safe and effective learning environment.
4. Target 9.1: “Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being…”
   • The construction of a new school building is an investment in social infrastructure. Rebuilding it after a tornado highlights the need for resilient infrastructure that can support community well-being.
5. Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity…”
   • By naming the school after Dr. William M. Hampton, the “first Black person elected to Greensboro City Council,” the community is symbolically promoting the social and political inclusion of Black citizens and recognizing their historical contributions.
6. Target 11.5: “By 2030, significantly reduce… the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters…”
   • The article is about rebuilding a school that was “destroyed by a tornado in 2018.” This action is a direct response to a disaster, aiming to restore essential services and build back community infrastructure, thereby mitigating the long-term effects of the disaster.
7. Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.”
   • The naming decision was made through a vote by the “Board of Education.” The choice to honor a pioneering Black leader alongside an educator demonstrates an inclusive and representative decision that reflects the community’s diverse history.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 4.a: The number of new educational facilities constructed.
   • The article provides a specific instance that can be counted: one new elementary school (“Peeler-Hampton Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School”) was built.
2. Indicator for Target 11.5: The number of essential facilities (like schools) reconstructed after a natural disaster.
   • The article explicitly states that one school, destroyed by a tornado, has been rebuilt, providing a quantifiable data point for disaster recovery efforts.
3. Indicator for Target 4.7: The integration of arts and culture into primary education curricula.
   • The school’s designation as a “visual and performing arts elementary school” is a qualitative indicator that its curriculum is designed to promote culture’s contribution to education and development.
4. Indicator for Target 10.2: The number or proportion of public institutions named after individuals from historically underrepresented groups.
   • The naming of the school after Dr. William M. Hampton, the “first Black person elected to Greensboro City Council,” serves as a specific, qualitative example of progress toward this indicator.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

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