From: Robert Eurich
To: hemingway.sau54@rochesternh.net
Cc: llovering@ed.state.nh.us; Pete Sanfaçon
Sent: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 4:15 PM
Subject: ethnic sports team token
Mr. Hemingway,
The wonder of electronic communications, which allows messages to be instantaneously sent to untold numbers of people worldwide, has brought to our attention news that a school in your Rochester district, which uses an institutionalized ethnic sports team token, has raised serious concerns.
Although the school in your district that uses the ethnic token is anything but unique, it is always troubling to me, and many others, to see stereotypic icons used and therefore endorsed by the district, which are not only ethnically but gender exclusive. http://rochesterschools.com/SHS/athletics/index.html
As you may know, while the issue of stereotyping Native Peoples has existed since the first contact with Europeans, this specific matter concerning the institutionalized use of "Indian" sports team tokens by publicly funded schools has been ongoing for over thirty years. You are to be congratulated for your willingness to accept the many difficult challenges encompassed in this complex and often emotionally volatile topic.
I would like to take this opportunity to bring to your attention an authoritative web site which contains a very considerable volume of material that you may find insightful and useful as review the concerns associated with your Spaulding High School's "Indian" related "Red Raiders" nickname. The web site, "American Indian Sports Team Mascots," is among the most complete Internet resources of its kind and can be found at www.aistm.org.
While I will leave you to browse the site as you may or may not choose, for your potential convenience I close with these links to a few of the many items found there.
NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION RESOLUTION
2005 American Psychological Association Resolution, recommending the Immediate Retirement of American Indian Mascots, Symbols, Images, and Personalities by schools, Colleges, Universities, Athletic Teams, and Organizations.
2001 Resolution by the American Counseling Association calling for the elimination of stereotypical American Indian imagery.
2001 United States Commission on Civil Rights Position Statement
Again, thank you for your anticipated thoughtful consideration, vision, leadership, and wisdom. Doing the easy thing is not always right and doing the right thing is not always easy.
If I can be of assistance in this matter, please feel free to write.
Sincerely,
Robert Eurich
sponsor/webmaster - AISTM.org
American Indian Sports Team Mascots
