One district in Texas — the Lamar Consolidated Independent School District — is doing something about it. They pulled all mention of Virginia from their virtual learning hub for elementary-aged students because the Virginia state flag and seal include the image of Roman goddess Virtus. This decision comes as part of a broader initiative to adhere to local library policies that prohibit “visual depictions or illustrations of frontal nudity” in elementary school materials.
The virtus’ coinage-like image depicts her seconds after slaying a tyrant. Since it was first written by Thomas Jefferson in 1776, it has generated criticism and dissent. Virginia’s state flag wasn’t meant to be a passive symbol. It stood for the struggle for self-rule in opposition to British tyranny during the American Revolutionary War. Virtus looks confidently to the future, holding both a sword and a spear. Next to the body of that dimming despot, usually recognized as England’s King George III, the decree “Sic Semper Tyrannis,” or “Thus always to tyrants,” defiantly proclaims the intention right at home.
Recently, the Texas Freedom to Read Project discovered that third to fifth graders in the Lamar district can no longer access materials about Virginia through the online research database PebbleGo Next. This recent removal showcases the continued battle over what is taught in schools and on the censorship occurring in our public school systems.
Virtus’ representation is controversial and has been for many years. Perhaps the most contentious debate became the one in 2010, centering on what counts as sexually explicit content in Virginia’s K–12 school libraries. During that time, Larry Sabato, a political scientist at the University of Virginia, criticized censorship efforts, stating:
“When you ask to be ridiculed, it usually happens. And it will happen here, nationally. This is classical art, for goodness’s sake.” – Larry Sabato
The image of Virtus’s exposed nipple ignited a firestorm of discussion. Consequently, it has served as inspiration for different iterations of the seal over the decades. For instance, in 1901, Virginia officials mandated that the bared breast be included to distinctly indicate that Virtus was female. Ken Cuccinelli, then Virginia’s state attorney general, even created custom lapel pins. These pins transformed the seal to modestly cover the breast, drawing attention to the logo’s contentious nature.