Schools superintendent urges schools to drop Indian names

Associated Press

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The state schools superintendent is asking Wisconsin school districts to drop American Indian names, mascots and logos, saying they perpetuate stereotypes.

Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster sent letters making her request to 39 districts in late December.

According to a group representing Indian educators, the Wisconsin Indian Education Association, the state has 39 schools with Indian logos, mascots and names, including the Auburndale Apaches, the Wisconsin Rapids Red Raiders, the Rib Lake Redmen and the Tomahawk Hatchets.

Burmaster wrote in her letter, "As you know, I believe that stereotypical American Indian logos do not support sound educational practice because they interfere with a school's efforts to provide accurate information related to history, culture and tribal sovereignty of American Indian nations.''

She said the state's schools must make sure all students feel welcome.

"Stereotypical logos can hurt our children, albeit unintentionally,'' she wrote.

Burmaster said she supports two identical bills in the Legislature that would force districts to prove their mascots did not promote discrimination and stereotypes if a resident complained. If they could not, they would have to change their mascots within a year or face fines of up to $1,000 a day.

The bills have not been assigned to committees yet. Sen. Luther Olsen, R-Berlin, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he did not agree with the bills or Burmaster's position.

"If we ever believe in local control, we have to let them choose their mascots,'' he said of schools.

But Barb Munson of the Wisconsin Indian Education Association said all school boards need to address the issue.

"I think the thing I find particularly pernicious about using (Indian names) in the public schools is that's where we're teaching people; that's where we're telling people what life is,'' she said.

At Mukwonago High School, where sports teams are known as the Indians, senior Tim Reiter said he sees no reason to find a new name, and few people have asked for one.

"It's been around for a while. It's part of our heritage,'' he said.