Rochester needs to revisit mascot
To the editor:
I am writing in response to articles in Foster's on April 12 regarding the Spaulding mascot.
I could not make the meeting and am disappointed in the obvious disregard for the state Board of Education resolution passed in 2002 that encourages the elimination of such mascots akin to what Spaulding has.
I am all for showing loyalty to a school, but how can someone take pride in an emblem that is so outwardly offensive?
Many other schools have the same amount of pride in their own mascot/emblem, but a large percentage of those are not using a mascot such as the one used at Spaulding.
The mascot is not honoring anyone. I am ashamed to even know it still exists after all these years.
There needs to be a clearly defined action plan on how to better educate the community. Words are great, but I have a feeling [they] will be like other promises that are quickly forgotten.
What sort of education items will there be? How mascots of this kind can be psychologically damaging? How about discussing the many Abenaki who died in the area we now call New Hampshire? How about the truth behind Thanksgiving?
I hope that the School Board will continue to look at this issue, and put forth a plan on how it will educate the community and those in Spaulding High School.
Todd Warfield
Rochester
