Non-NFL teams with the name Redskins, mostly High Schools, have received attention due to the media coverage of the Washington Redskins name controversy, in particular three which have a majority of Native American students. Advocates for the name conclude that because some Native Americans use the name to refer to themselves, it is not insulting. However, the principal of one of these, Red Mesa High School in Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, said that use of the word outside American Indian communities should be avoided because it could perpetuate "the legacy of negativity that the term has created." Wellpinit High School on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington wants nothing to do with the national controversy, seeing Redskins as the traditional name they have used for their team. However, they do not accept being used as a justification for anyone else using the name.
Contents
- Role in the national controversy
- Recent changes
- California law
- Opposition to change
- Neshaminy Pennsylvania
- Other schools with controversies
- Other teams
- Amateur adult
- Pop Warner
- YouthLittle league
- Association football
- Wrestling
- References
As of early 2013, the Capitol News Service in Maryland listed twenty-eight high schools in 18 states that had dropped the "redskins" name during the prior 25 years as a result of a combination of state legal action, protests from Native American groups, or voluntarily; while 62 were listed as continuing to use the redskins name. Since that list was compiled, an additional thirteen high school teams (cited below) no longer use the name, including four effected by a California law signed on October 11, 2015 requiring new names by January 1, 2017. This leaves the total at 49 high schools.
The college teams using the name changed voluntarily, the University of Utah became Utah Utes in 1972, Miami University of Ohio became the RedHawks in 1997 and the Southern Nazarene University became the Crimson Storm in 1998.
Role in the national controversy
On its official website in early 2013, the Washington Redskins posted articles referring to high school teams using the same name (and often the same logo). The athletic director of Coshocton High School in Coshocton, Ohio is quoted as saying, "We are very proud of our athletic teams and very proud to be called Redskins!" The principal of McLoud High School in McLoud, Oklahoma says that not only students, but the local Native American population takes pride in the name. The coach at Lamar High School in Houston, Texas says, "Our school is 75 years old and there's a lot of pride in it," he explained. "I think it's a great mascot, as all of the traits of a Redskins warrior are something to be admired."
Recent changes
The Cooperstown Central School Board of Education in Cooperstown, New York voted 6-1 on March 6, 2013 to remove the Redskins mascot from its interscholastic athletic, extracurricular and academic programs. The move was prompted by a vote by the student body, asking that the mascot be changed. The Oneida Indian Nation was so moved by the actions of the Cooperstown students, that a letter by Oneida Nation Representative Ray Halbritter was written to the students, commending their decision and offering to make a contribution to help offset the cost of changing mascots.
In June 24, 2013 school board members of the Port Townsend High School in Port Townsend, Washington voted to replace its "Redskins" nickname, logo, and mascot (used since 1926) due to its divisive nature. In April 2014 the students selected Red Hawks as their new team name. The next step will be to select new graphics to replace the old.
Ledgemont High School in Thompson Township, Geauga County, Ohio which had used the name closed in 2014.
Lamar High School in Houston, Texas became the Texans in April, 2014.
On December 8, 2014 the Oklahoma City School Board voted unanimously to remove Redskins as the nickname for Capitol Hill High School. The vote came in response to pleas from students and teachers who found the term offensive. The following day some students of the high school upset by the change protested the school board decision. On January 6, 2015 the school board held an information forum at which a panel of Native American community leaders presented the reasons for the decision, including the derogatory nature of the term. Some members of the audience walked out during the presentation, and one alumni called the presentation "propaganda" and asserted his opposition to changing the name. Another alumni stated that if any Native Americans did not like the name Redskins they should go to a native school. A committee has selected four possible replacements, including Red Hawks, Red Wolves, War Eagles and Nations, with the final decision to be made by a vote of Capitol Hill Students. Names such as Chieftains and Warriors, although favored by alumni on the committee, were not selected as continuing the linkage to Native Americans. In a vote by students in May, 2015, Red Wolves was selected as the new mascot.
The name of the Lancaster, New York High School team was discussed at a school board meeting in January, 2015. "Of all the words that could be used to describe us, ‘Redskin’ is the worst, said John Kane, talk show host for the First Voices Indigenous Radio Network". The school has de-emphasized the Redskins name in recent years, eliminating the name and logo from the scoreboard and uniforms. However, two former school board members defend the name, citing it as "a source of community identity, pride and spirit". Kane characterized the defense of the name as having an "Archie Bunker" mentality. "In this day and age, it’s not a celebratory term," said Hilary N. Weaver, associate dean for academic affairs at the University at Buffalo and co-director of the Immigrant and Refugee Research Institute. "You’re a school district, and it’s important to look at what you’re teaching. … I don’t think racism has a place in an educational institution." The name was again debated at the Lancaster school on March 3, 2015, and was defended by many, but not all current and former students. The President of the Seneca Nation of New York, Maurice John Sr., wrote a letter stating: "Let’s be clear — the term "redskin" is a racial slur... I strongly disagree with those who argue that it is a term of honor and respect. It has no place in today’s society." The letter was also addressed to President Barack Obama, Governor Andrew Cuomo and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with reference to the Washington NFL team. Two high schools, in Akron and Lake Shore, have cancelled Lacrosse games with Lancaster in support of the Native American opposition to the Redskins name. The student population in the Lake Shore school district is 15% Native American, and 11% in Akron, while there are only a dozen Native Americans out of 6,000 students at Lancaster. On March 16, the Lancaster school board voted unanimously to retire the Redskin mascot. Two days after the decision, about 300 students in favor of keeping the mascot protested, out of 2,000 total in the school district. The Lancaster School Board has been given a service award by the Western New York Educational Service Council for the courage and wisdom it displayed in determining that the current mascot was harmful to the Native American population. In June, 2015 a student vote selected Legends as the new name with a knight in armor as the new logo.
Fort Wayne Community Schools officials began discussions in July 2015 to change the Redskins name used by North Side High School for its athletic teams, marching band and school nickname. The nickname was changed to Legends in December, 2015.
In Goshen, Indiana the majority of the school board was in favor of changing the mascot of Goshen High School while others, including athletic staff favor maintaining what they view as part of a tradition of leadership and sportsmanship. The board decided in a 5-2 vote to retire the name, proponents citing the reevaluation spurred by the Washington NFL controversy. The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians is among those advocating the change, saying in a written statement, "The R-word crosses a line for us. It's offensive, derogatory, and demeaning. ... Using the R-word perpetuates harmful stereotypes of Native Americans, and continues the damaging practice of relegating Native Americans to the past and portraying us as a caricature." The Goshen school board voted November 16, 2015 to adopt RedHawks as the new mascot, effective January 1, 2016.
The Conrad Schools of Science in Wilmington, Delaware formed a "Retire the Mascot" committee to begin the process of changing the mascot that has been used for 80 years, but which many students and staff now agree is offensive to Native Americans. However the president of the alumni association states that "He and other Conrad alumni wear their Redskins pins and clothing with pride." In May, 2016 the committee voted 9 to 4 to recommend that the Red Clay Consolidated School District that the name be changed. The chiefs of two local tribes, the Nanticoke and the Lenape are in favor of the change, but many alumni appeared at the meeting to oppose it. In June, 2016 the Red Clay board voted 4-2 to drop the name, and begin the process of selecting another. The "Red Wolves" was selected by a student vote in February, 2017.
Citing the trend towards elimination of the Redskins mascot by other schools, Belding High School in Michigan is tending towards the use of an Old English "B" logo. The Belding Area Schools Board of Education unanimously voted December 19, 2016 to drop the Redskins and begin the process of selecting a new name.
California law
Upon introducing a bill to ban, as of January 2017, the Redskins name used by high schools in the state of California, Assemblyman Luis Alejo stated that there is ""no reason why we can't ... phase out that particular derogatory term from our public high schools". The four affected high schools are Tulare Union High School, Gustine High School, Calaveras High School, and Chowchilla Union High School. The governor signed the bill into law on October 11, 2015.
Gustine High became the first to implement a change in February, 2016; becoming the "Reds", the name used by the school from 1913 to 1936. After a vote between four alternatives, Calaveras High School has selected to remove the Redskins name, but not replace it. The logo featuring a Native American will be retained. The Tulare school board began the process by surveying the public. The local Tule River Indian tribe is also being consulted. The committee selected "The Tribe" as its top choice in April, 2016. The school principle stated their intention to retain Native American imagery as much as possible. The Tulare Joint Union High School District board of trustees voted 3-2 for "Tribe" as the new mascot in June, 2016. Chowchilla Union High School put off its decision until November 2016, after the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the school in October. The Chowchilla team name will be "Tribe", retaining their logo and Native American imagery.
Opposition to change
Union High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a high-profile high school athletic program, has consistently opposed protests and proposed legislation intended to change its "Redskins" nickname. However, a new mascot named "Hyper" has been introduced.
The school board of McLoud Public Schools in Oklahoma met in December 2015, and after hearing testimony on both sides voted to keep the name.
In June 2013 the school superintendent in Driggs, Idaho announced that Teton High School would drop its longtime "Redskins" nickname, logo and mascot to show respect for Native Americans. However, the decision was not immediately implemented due to the costs, and the school board has not taken any further action.
The Canisteo-Greenwood School Board in New York also voted in 2013 to remove the mascot of their high school but reversed the decision due to public opposition.
The mascot of the Paw Paw Public Schools, Paw Paw, Michigan has been the subject of discussion for 20 years. Some in the community had thought a decision to keep the name had been made in 2015, but change was again a topic at the school board meeting in November 2016 due to a protest that occurred in September. The issue has been scheduled for discussion at two special forums in advance of the next regular board meeting. Change was narrowly defeated in a school board vote in 2017.
Neshaminy, Pennsylvania
In 2013, after failing in her appeals directly to Neshaminy High School, a parent filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) alleging the "Redskins" name is a form of harassment offensive to Native Americans and her then 13-year-old son who attends the school. The school board unanimously voted to ask the commission to dismiss the complaint, but the editors of the student newspaper, the Playwickian, voted to stop using the name. However, the principal and the school board president have decided that the student newspaper's editorial board does not have the right to refuse to use the name. The school board reached a compromise policy in which the name would not be entirely banned, but allowed in editorials and letters to the editor; however the editors of the paper and their attorney maintain that this policy is contrary to state law and the US Constitution. Both the student editor and the faculty adviser for the paper were suspended for two days by the school district supervisor for not printing the name. The faculty adviser, Tara Huber was recently named Journalism Teacher of the Year in 2014 by the Pennsylvania School Press Association. The Playwickian journalists were honored by the ACLU on October 8, 2014, receiving one of four Civil Libertarian Awards, and in December, 2014 by the Philadelphia City Council with a resolution commending their actions. As of November, 2014 the Neshaminy School District has incurred $26,000 in legal fees defending the mascot. The PHRC has made a preliminary finding that the name Redskins is "racially derogatory" and creates a "hostile educational environment." The case will now proceed to a hearing by the full commission unless the school district takes steps to remedy the situation, which thus far they have refused to do. The editors of the school newspaper continue to oppose the use of the name, but have been reprimanded for doing so by the school administration. The law firm representing the Student Press Law Center has sent a letter to the solicitor of the Neshaminy School District citing the federal and state laws and school policy that have been violated by the school administration in failing to respect the independence decision of the Playwickian editorial board to redact the Redskins name in all articles submitted.
Other schools with controversies
Other teams
Throughout the country, some of the other teams with the Redskins name must deal with the controversy. Others say there have been no complaints, including a youth league Sarasota, Florida, the "Ringling Redskins" in which the teams are the "Braves", "Indians", and "Warriors".