Oregon Bans Native American Mascots: Should More States Do the Same?
SodaHead News
2012/05/19 21:55:01
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The Oregon Board of Education has spoken. Public schools in the state must discontinue the use of Native American mascots by July 2017—or risk the loss of state funding.
The new regulation, which bans the use of Native American names, symbols, or images as school mascots, is being described as the toughest and most far-reaching of its kind. According to Oregon officials, Wisconsin is the only other state with a similar ban, though their policy is far less stringent. In Wisconsin, if complaints are made, schools must prove that their mascots do not promote discrimination, harassment, or stereotyping.
Fifteen Oregon high schools, and an unknown number of elementary and middle schools, are impacted by the new policy. Names specifically prohibited include “Redskins,” “Savages,” “Indians,” and “Braves.” Schools that use the name “Warriors” will be allowed to continue doing so, as long as they abandon any graphics associated with Native American tribes, customs, or traditions.
The new regulation, which bans the use of Native American names, symbols, or images as school mascots, is being described as the toughest and most far-reaching of its kind. According to Oregon officials, Wisconsin is the only other state with a similar ban, though their policy is far less stringent. In Wisconsin, if complaints are made, schools must prove that their mascots do not promote discrimination, harassment, or stereotyping.
Fifteen Oregon high schools, and an unknown number of elementary and middle schools, are impacted by the new policy. Names specifically prohibited include “Redskins,” “Savages,” “Indians,” and “Braves.” Schools that use the name “Warriors” will be allowed to continue doing so, as long as they abandon any graphics associated with Native American tribes, customs, or traditions.
The state school board considered eight hours of public testimony and 700 written comments (400 in favor and 300 against) before voting 5-1 to accept the new policy. Individuals against the regulation argued in favor of maintaining longstanding community traditions and avoiding expensive changes in a time of tight public budgets. They also claimed that in some cases the mascots were intended as respectful tributes.
However, the state schools superintendent, Susan Castillo, argued that “intent is not enough.” She added, “We need to focus on what the impact is on our kids.”
And according to Se-ah-dom Edmo, an educator at Lewis and Clark College who testified in favor of the ban on behalf of the Oregon Indian Education Association, the impact is definitely not positive on Native American students.
“If you were like me and grew up here in Oregon and played opposing these schools that had Indian mascots, there was harm that was done there,” she said. “I think they were intending to honor native folks, but any time that you objectify a person or stereotype a group of people, which is really what the mascots did, it ceases to become a truth about them. The broader psychological impacts show lower self-esteem for native students and poor race relations.”
So SodaHeads, what do you think about Oregon’s ban on Native American mascots? Should more states do the same?
Read More: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation/nationnow/la-na...
"then use their identity as our school mascots" Again as above.
My ancestors? They showed up here about 200 years ago. Would that make me something less than a "native american"? Lived here all my life. Folks were bore and raised here as were theirs. Were they not "native americans".
The "rehetoric" I Spout was in direct reply to yours.
I am not: African, Italian, French, Polish... American.
Just plan "American". Don't need any special label.
I try to imagine The Indian Nation sproutin from the soil like beans. I don't see it. Seems to me they showed up here from somewhere else too.
So, how did I respond to this question, three months ago?
I Voted "NO". And my comment was this:
What a bunch of "P.C." "B.S." They just took away the last "Red Skin" mascot here in Maine.
I am so sick of "Political Correctness". Sure, words can hurt but calling your team "The Chiefs or Red Skins" does no harm. There was No Malicious intent when these names were first given. If anything, they were meant to show toughness and bravery.
Whatever...
And to you I say, "Whatever".
I frankly think this is more "politically correct" mindset than it is a real problem.
Now, I do separate out some of the native American names that could be offensive. Red Skins? Indians (when the term isn't even correct)? And of course some of the logos like Chief Wahoo. I can understand the issue with that sort of stuff and I wouldn't have an issue if the NCAA wanted to crack down on specific troubling stuff like that. But those examples are from private businesses that obviously can choose to market as they see fit.
There is no reason to create an inequative system where Fighting Illini isn't allowed as a positive emblem but Fighting Irish is. In fact, the suggestion to me sounds racist. No, we won't allow you to support images of Natives . . . you can only support the white man.
As for this specific case, again, I think RedSkins and Indians are fine to ban. I think Savages as a term is different depending on the logo depiction. Savages can be a general term and if its portrayed as such then it shouldn't be banned. i have a huge issue with banning Braves. Brave is a very positive term in todays world. Its a positive nickname - even moreso than warrior. I don't know why you want to kill positive terminology.
The fact that the government is willing to pay for abortion offends me, but I don’t see anyone passing laws and regulations because I am offended. Why is it we have to pander to some and not all? I suspect that the pandering is done to appease Democrat voters. If a segment is offended, evangelical Christians for example, that are not dependable Democrat party voters, the government doesn’t give a whit about their feelings. But if some predominant minority that generally supports the Democrat Party is offended, then heaven and earth will be moved to remove the offence!
The fact that schools have chosen Indians as their mascot is an honor to the great American-Indian heritage.
Politically Correct people who have nothing better to do with their time should go out and volunteer to remove Obama this November..... 39 MILLION of your fellow Americans are on food stamps and DON'T GIVE A RATS BEHIND ABOUT SCHOOL MASCOTS BEING INDIANS.