And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
(thanks to Robert for sending this..Ish)
Bill would make schools drop
discriminatory mascots
http://www.jsonline.com/news/Wauk/990318billwouldmakeschoolsd.asp
By Amy Rinard and Betsy Thatcher
of the Journal Sentinel staff
March 18, 1999
Schools judged to have discriminatory mascots, nicknames or
logos would be forced to abandon them or face substantial
fines under a proposal made Wednesday by Rep. Frank Boyle
(D-Superior).
During a Capitol news conference, Boyle listed 40 school
districts -- including the Mukwonago School District -- that he
said had discriminatory American Indian logos, mascots or
nicknames.
Rep. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), who represents Mukwonago
and Milton, which also was on Boyle's list, immediately
denounced Boyle's proposal.
"This bill would make political correctness the new standard
for discrimination," Nass said.
Nass said that at his news conference Boyle had labeled the
use of American Indian mascots, nicknames and logos as
"ignorant." He demanded that Boyle apologize.
"The people of Mukwonago and Milton are hard-working,
decent people and are certainly not ignorant or racist," Nass
said in a statement sent to Boyle.
Under Boyle's proposed legislation, a resident of a school
district could file a complaint with the state objecting to the
district's use of a nickname, mascot or logo. The state
superintendent of schools then would be required to hold a
hearing on the complaint.
The burden for proving that a district's nickname, mascot or
logo was not discriminatory and did not promote pupil
harassment or stereotyping would fall to the school board.
If the state superintendent of schools ruled against the school
board, the district would be ordered to stop using the name or
symbol within a year. If use continued, a fine of between $100
and $1,000 could be levied for each day the order was
violated.
"While I certainly don't advocate any additional costs or
conflict for our school systems, I also won't stand by and
watch students suffer from stereotypical actions taken by our
schools," Boyle said.
Under current law, a resident of a school district may file a
complaint with the state Department of Public Instruction
charging that a mascot, nickname or logo is discriminatory.
DPI conducts an investigation and makes a decision.
In the cases it has investigated, the department has found
American Indian mascots, logos and nicknames not to be
discriminatory. But, at the same time, the department has
expressed concern over whether those school symbols foster a
school environment that may make American Indian students
feel uncomfortable.
David Smette, superintendent of the Menomonie Area School
District, said he fears Boyle's proposal would create even more
conflict over an issue that already is fraught with it.
"We've had a lot of conflict in the district" over its Indian
name
and logo, which is a Plains Indian wearing a headdress, Smette
said.
The issue led to the 1997 recall of three Menomonie School
Board members who had voted to drop the nickname.
Although the nickname was dropped, it later was reinstated.
"It doesn't sound like a solution," Smette said of Boyle's
proposal.
Ken Cole, executive director of the Wisconsin Association of
School Boards, said "communities ought to know best."
Over the last six years, about 25 school districts have
voluntarily ended the use of American Indian mascots and
logos. But the process is often one that has to evolve, Cole
said. "People think they lose a connection, and there are a lot
of people who don't have connection to a lot of things."
Jean Cruikshank, president of the Mukwonago School Board,
agreed with Cole that Boyle's proposal makes it more difficult
for a community to make the ultimate decision. Several years
ago, a complaint was lodged against the Mukwonago district's
use of the nickname "Indians" and its logo. In 1995, the DPI
ruled that the name and logo were not discriminatory -- but it
did give the district a "corrective action plan" designed to
ensure that the name and logo would be used with dignity and
respect.
"I'm always for local control, regardless of the issue,"
Cruikshank said.
Geoff Steinbach, activities director for the Arrowhead School
District in Hartland, said although Arrowhead High School
teams are nicknamed "Warhawks," there is nothing
discriminatory about it.
"The historical logo of Arrowhead High School is a winged
hawk," Steinbach said.
There was a time, when the school was in the Braveland
athletic conference, an Indian head image was used on some
certificates and other items. The only logo that is used now
depicts a hawk, he said.
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Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit)
Unenh onhwa' Awayaton
http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/
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