FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: ROBERT EURICH
maxtotal@yahoo.commaxtotal@yahoo.com

New York State Education Department calls for retirement of "Indian" sports team tokens.

Although almost five years have passed since an appeal concerning the institutionalized use of "Indian" mascots in New York public schools was filed, the
New York State Education Department has finally taken a stand.

In a four page statement issued today the Department's Commissioner, Richard Mills, called for school boards "to end the use of Native American mascots as soon as practical." Reasons for this are many and include the belief that such race-related practices "can become a barrier to building a safe and nurturing school community and improving academic achievement for all students." Commissioner Mills indicates inthe statement that progress on the retirement process will be formally reviewed next year.

Stemming from the Port Jervis, New York, school district's use of its race-related "Red Raiders" sports team nickname, icons, and practices, the appeal was filed in 1996 after the district failed to take meaningful action despite being repeatedly asked to do so for over two years.

Contending that the use of "Indian" themed sports team tokens by public schools have any number of educational and moral drawbacks, the issue was advanced by human rights advocate, Robert Eurich.

During the time since the appeal was filed several New York school districts have become part of a growing national trend to retire "Indian" sports team nicknames, mascots, and logos. Some of these New York schools include those in the Canajoharie district, Saranac Lake, Watkins Glen Elementary, Ravena, and Lebanon Springs. These public schools join a number of New York institutions of higher learning such as St. John's, St. Bonaventure, Syracuse, and Siena College that have also changed their "Indian" mascots.

It is estimated that about 160 or approximately twenty-percent of New York statepublic schools continue to use such ethnic tokens. Several districts, however, are currently in the process of rethinking these race-related practices.

The decision by the New York State Education Department comes at a time when the United States Commission on Civil Rights is also preparing to address this
longstanding national issue. According to recently published news accounts the Commission is currently investigating the possibility that the institutionalized use of "Indian" sports team tokens may violate Title II and/or Title IV Civil Rights Laws of 1964. While the Commission does not have the authority to enact laws, schools found in violation of Civil Rights acts could lose federal funding.

In light of the increasingly diverse ethnic composition of the United States, as well as the need to take pro-active measures aimed at ensuring that public schools have safe environments free of aspects that could potentially stimulate violence, the Education Department's statement is especially timely.

Although the Education Department's statement can be expected to stimulate knee-jerk crys of "political correctness" and "over-sensitivity" such charges are becoming more and more transparent as enlightened educators, students, religious and civil rights groups, parents, and others hear the message from American Indian people saying that regardless of intent, being a mascot for someone else's fun and games is anything but an honor or sign of genuine respect.

"This is not a question of 'over-sensitivity' on the part of American Indian people," said Eurich, "it is gross insensitivity on the part of those who ignore what American Indian people have been saying about this issue for years and selfishly insist on keeping 'their' mascot. What makes one group of people think they have the so-called 'right' to use another group of people as 'their' mascot in the first place? If this issue is so unimportant, as some people contend, then why not just change the mascots and be done with it? Tradition is no good reason for perpetuating outdated and educationally unsound race-related practices."

For complete information on the institutionalized us of "Indian" sports team tokens
visit
http://earnestman.tripod.com/1indexpage.htm

Complete official text of the NYSED "Indian" mascot position statement
http://earnestman.tripod.com/fr.2001nysed.htm

New York State Department of Education
Richard P. Mills, Commissioner
518-474-5844

Story from Albany's primary newspaper

State asks schools to end use of Indians as mascots

ALBANY -- State Education Commissioner Richard Mills said today the generations-old use of Indians for school nicknames and mascots should end.

``I have concluded that the use of Native American symbols or depictions as mascots can become a barrier to building a safe and nurturing school community and improving academic achievement for all students,'' Mills said in a letter to public schools. ``I ask the superintendents and presidents of school boards to lead their communities to a new understanding on this matter ... next year I will formally evaluate the progress on this issue.''

He said the decision to drop ``Chiefs,'' ``Braves,'' ``Indians'' and other references to Native Americans is not solely a local matter.

``There is a state interest in providing a safe and supportive learning environment for every child. The use of Native American mascots involves a state responsibility as well.''

The decision is likely to help decide current conflicts in several school districts and start others where Mills is urging discussions to begin immediately to drop the
names.

``I think certainly it will have an impact on the final decision, absolutely,'' said Superintendent Susan Gray of the Penfield Central School District in suburban
Rochester. There, the 46-year-old ``Chiefs'' logo may be dropped as being offensive to American Indians.

The long-awaited position paper addresses an issue that has divided communities statewide. Schools had expected a pronouncement from the commissioner as early as June 2000.

Mills considered the results of surveys of schools and has discussed the issue with local school officials over several months.

``Some members of these communities believe that the mascots honor or pay tribute to Native Americans and their culture,'' Mills said in his letter to school officials. ``However, most Native Americans appear to find the portrayal by others of their treasured cultural and religious symbols as disparaging and disrespectful. Many others who have looked at this issue concur.''

The commissioner decided against an immediate ban.

``People in many communities haven't had an opportunity to talk about this and listen to one another,'' Mills said. ``There are cherished traditions surrounding many of the mascots. There are even significant costs involved,'' he said, citing the expense of changing team uniforms and gym floors.

``Local remedies should be exhausted first,'' he said. He then called on school officials to lead the community ``in a discussion of the right path to take ... we
have an obligation to inform communities so that they might come to understand the pain, however unintentionally inflicted, these symbols cause.''