Board wants school to revisit mascot issue
NASHUA TELEGRAPH
By JESSIE SALISBURY, Telegraph Staff
Published: Monday, Aug. 27, 2007
WILTON – The subject of the high school mascot, a stylized figure of an American Indian in a headdress, came up again Tuesday at the regular meeting of the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School Board.
The New England Anti-Mascot Coalition had questioned the use of the mascot earlier this year.
A newly revived class, Contemporary American Issues, "will address, to some extent, the issues of tolerance and acceptance," Principal Trevor Ebel told the school board on Monday.
Board Chairman Jean Scagel asked if the topic could be incorporated into other class discussions.
"We need to facilitate a conversation about the mascot," she said, suggesting a school-wide assembly. "We could invite speakers from both sides."
Ebel said that last spring students were adamantly against a change in mascot.
The school has had the mascot longer than anyone can remember, and Ebel said he had found no information on why it was chosen.
Except for a brief period in the 1970s when a cartoon character was used, "it has always been respectful and positive."
Scagel said times and attitudes change, and it should be looked at again.
The question will be discussed at future meetings.
In a continuing discussion of school-board goals, Ebel said he was looking into the question of upgrading the school driveway, which doesn't have a sidewalk.
An upgrade was suggested 10 years ago during the last reaccreditation of the school by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, "but it wasn't specific, just talking about safety," Ebel said. The school is currently preparing for reaccreditation next year, and looking at all of the recommendations from last time.
Ebel said he would talk with road agent Steve Elliott about the work and also get some specifics on costs in order to prepare a warrant article for the school district meeting in March.
Jessie Salisbury can be reached at 654-9704 or jessies@tellink.net.