And now:[EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Side Note: In last night's school board meeting several cheer leaders and football players appeared in the now defunct Redskins team outfits despite requests that they not do so. It is believed by some that one of the coaches instigated this display of defiance, when asked who had requested their appearance the students declined to comment. It is with a vote of confidence that the school board follow through with a quality education, which includes cross cultural sensitivity and therefore this mascots' retirement. Frontier nears mascot choice By MICHELLE AGUILAR, Staff Writer http://www.gazettenet.com/11101999/schools/18519.htm Wednesday, November 10, 1999 -- (DEERFIELD) - After nearly three years of debate, Frontier Regional School may get a new mascot next month when the School Committee chooses from among four proposed names: the Chiefs, the Redwings, the Redhawks, or the Trailblazers. The packed Frontier Regional School media center exploded with applause Tuesday night after the Frontier Regional School Committee voted 6-3 to place the mascot question on its December agenda for a vote. The Redskins mascot was retired officially in December 1997 by a 5-4 committee vote amid complaints that the name was racist. "I think we are beginning to look pretty silly stalling this any further," committee Chairman Karl Koenigsbauer of Deerfield said Tuesday night. The committee's decision came after more than an hour of debate over the validity of last year's subcommittee selection of the four names. Committee member Martha Goodridge of Whately favored starting over with a new subcommittee that would include more student representation. The subpanel's nine members included three students. Committee member Thomas Scanlon of Deerfield favored amending the subcommittee results to allow the committee to reject all four choices. Both these efforts failed, and the School Committee voted to use the subcommittee's results. Those who spoke against the Redskins mascot have said the word evoked a violent period in U.S. history when the government paid bounty hunters for American Indian scalps. "It's a highly offensive and inflammatory name. A town of civilized people should not be using it," said Charles Yow, an attorney-mediator hired by the American Indian Movement's Massachusetts chapter. Proponents of the Redskins name, the Frontier mascot since 1956, most frequently cited the pride of tradition as their main reason for wanting to retain it. In a Nov. 4 letter, Yow wrote Frontier Superintendent John Welch that the American Indian Movement would sue Frontier if the name Redskins and "all associated regalia" were ever reinstated. Redskins supporters sued the school but dropped the suit in November 1998, in exchange for the committee not discussing the issue or removing Redskins logos for one year. This is the first time the issue has been discussed in open session since then. The suit eventually sparked another issue in the district. The School Committee was discovered during the Redskins debate to have inequal distribution of voting power, in violation of constitutional law. This issue remains unresolved after inconclusive town meeting votes in the district's four towns this year. <<<<=-=-= =-=-=>>>> "We simply chose an Indian as the emblem. We could have just as easily chosen any uncivilized animal." Eighth Grade student writing about his school's mascot, 1997 <<<<=-= http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/racial/ =-=>>>> IF it says: "PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW...." Please Check it before you send it at: http://urbanlegends.miningco.com/library/blhoax.htm <<<<=-=-=FREE LEONARD PELTIER!!!=-=-=>>>>
