This Week’s Good Things: A School Dedication,                                                      New Sneakers for Kids in Need,                                                                                    and an Archer’s Bright Future 
LancasterOnline Editorial Board  (August 16, 2021)

It's Monday, the day we take a few moments to highlight the good news in Lancaster County. Some of these items are welcome developments on the economic front or for neighborhoods across the county. Others are local stories of achievement, perseverance, compassion and creativity that represent welcome points of light as the pandemic continues its daunting twists and turns. All of this news deserves a brighter spotlight.

 

There was a local dedication ceremony last week that is well worth noting.

 

The School District of Lancaster dedicated the newly built Smith-Wade-El Elementary School in Lancaster Township on Wednesday, with songs sung by the utterly wonderful McCaskey Choir and remarks by district and area officials.

 

The elementary school is named after the late Rita Smith-Wade-El, who taught at Millersville University for 35 years, created its African American studies program and was a longtime advocate for equitable education and civil rights.

 

Among the speakers were her son Ismail Smith-Wade-El, president of Lancaster City Council, and Damaris Rau, district superintendent.

David Krakoff, principal of the new school, tweeted: "Thankful for the opportunity to serve in our beautiful brand new facility. Driven to ensure our school embodies Dr. Rita Smith-Wade-El's passion for equity, education for all, and making sure ALL have voices that are heard."

 

That's a wonderful sentiment and one we're sure Smith-Wade-El would appreciate.

 

As we wrote in a "good things" editorial in May , we believe the School District of Lancaster school board hit a pair of home runs by renaming two of its schools after remarkable Black women.

 

In addition to Smith-Wade-El Elementary School, the former Edward Hand Middle School has been renamed to honor the late Hazel Jackson, the first female African American teacher in the School District of Lancaster and first female Black professor at Millersville University.

Writing about Smith-Wade-El in early 2019 , this editorial board wrote: "No one could doubt her devotion to her students or her passion for justice. She was fierce long before that word was embraced by pop culture."

 

And we agree with the words of her son, Ismail, when he eulogized her in December 2018 . He said his mother believed "that the world is changed by investing in people, loving them fiercely, and never backing down."

 

Investing in people begins with investing in children, so what a wonderful thing it is to now educate them in a facility that bears Smith-Wade-El's name.