State
Board Charges into American Indian Mascot/Logo Issue
MIRS, June 26, 2003
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In a resolution adopted unanimously, the State Board of
Education today strongly recommended the “elimination of
American Indian mascots, nicknames, logos, fight songs,
insignias, antics and team descriptions by all Michigan schools”
and directed that the resolution be sent to the Governor, all
legislators and all school districts.
The resolution was adopted, in part, over concern by some
American Indian tribes, organizations, state and local
officials, and private citizens that the use of American Indian
mascots are offensive and have a detrimental effect on the
educational achievement of American Indian students.
Civil Right Commission (CRC) member Valarie SIMMONS told Board
members the problem encompasses a broader ranger of
off-reservation issues
“It’s not just about oppressive, stereotypical logos and
mascots,” Simmons said. “It’s about the overall education
landscape including MEAP, dropouts and curriculum bias.”
Larry BETZ, staff attorney for the CRC, said the dropout rate
among American Indians is among the highest (89 percent) and the
failure rate on MEAP tests is twice as high as among white
students.
Board member Eileen WEISER questioned whether the resolution
should refer to Native Americans rather than American Indians to
match federal language.
Donna BUDNICK of the CRC staff and former director of the state
Indian Affairs Commission, said “either way you’re right, either
way you’re wrong” explaining a difference of views among the
tribal communities.
After some discussion and testimony, the Board decided to add an
asterisk after the words American Indian in the resolution and
directed staff to develop a footnote at the bottom of the
resolution “educationally” describing the history behind the use
of American Indian and Native American.
The action follows a similar resolution adopted by the Michigan
Civil Rights Commission in May 2003, encouraging all school
districts “to ensure that instructional materials, course works,
policies, and procedures are respectful of cultural differences
and enhance cultural competency, and are void of stereotypic
language and representations,”
The United States Civil Rights Commission adopted a resolution
in April, 2001, calling for an end to the use of American Indian
images and team names by schools.
Jim FARRAR, a Native American from Milan, told the Board the
resolution is a step in the right direction, but if there isn’t
more teeth, it won’t do any good. “The school officials will
just pitch it in the waste basket.”
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