Spaulding High logo debate continues
FOSTER'S DAILY DEMOCRAT
Friday, November 24, 2006
By AMANDA DUMOND
Democrat Staff Writer
adumond@fosters.com
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Spaulding High School's Red Raider logo could gradually disappear from sports memorabilia and clothing, though the symbol is not going to be eliminated entirely anytime soon. |
ROCHESTER — The School Board still struggles with how to handle Spaulding High School's Red Raider logo as discussions about the symbol continue.
A majority of board members want to keep the emblem, while other members say the logo is offensive and should be changed.
The debate over having an American Indian logo resurfaced this year when Spaulding alumnus Peter Sanfacon of Framingham, Mass. asked the district to reconsider changing the emblem because some people, including himself, consider the logo offensive.
On April 11, residents urged the board to leave the Red Raider alone because they believed it was a symbol of pride by many. The board made no decision on the logo at that time.
According to the Rochester Historical Society, the emblem originated sometime in the 1920s and was referenced in the literary magazine "Red and White." The symbol was never used in reference to American Indians until the 1950s, officials said this spring.
At a recent policy committee meeting, Vice Chair Charlie DeVito said regardless of the future of the logo, he believed it was being overused on school attire and sports memorabilia. He was concerned the logo was taking place of the high school name.
"The clothing should say Spaulding first so the school (being represented) is recognizable," he added.
DeVito has also advocated for a code of conduct to ensure the logo is used respectfully.
While two board members, Peggy Parker and Bob Watson, have said they believe the logo should be retired, the rest disagree.
"I think the community does want to keep it, but the question is now how to use it respectfully," John Connelly also said. "I'm OK with the emblem, but we don't need it all over the place."
The board needs to think ahead, for instance, in case future school boards decided the logo is offensive and should be removed, Superintendent Mike Hopkins said.
"We don't know if five years from now it will be a civil rights issue," he added.
Along with strong community support for the logo, board members are concerned with the high cost of replacing uniforms. Worse, more permanent fixtures, such as the painted American Indian head on the community center floor or the granite sign outside the high school that was a gift to the school, would also have to be replaced.
Administrators have suggested new uniforms not have the symbol either.
Watson also has called for the gradual replacement of the logo on uniforms because he said to replace uniforms immediately would cost "tens of thousands of dollars."
The high school will offer a course entitled "Native American Indian Studies" for next school year and has compiled a listing of classes that already address diversity issues, from sociology to statistics.
"We wanted to have something specific (on American Indian studies)," Hopkins said. "We just hope there will be enough students interested."
School Board members said they'd like to see the public forum happen soon, with both residents and students involved. Connelly said he'd like to see that dialogue occur over a year or so.
"We don't need to be emotional about it, but we do need to talk about it," he added. "And the board still needs to think ahead and be strategic."
School administrators believe there are people in Rochester who don't agree with the logo but are afraid to speak out, but board members suggested those people send their concerns anonymously to the superintendent's office.
Board member Jae Duntley said she knows the Spaulding logo is being discussed by local tribes and wanted to get them involved in the public forum as well. Watson suggested the athletic director, faculty and the Human Rites (sic) Club as others who should be part of the dialogue too.
Board members hope the public forum will aid them in making a decision on the logo's future.
"We don't need (to answer) the question 'do you want it changed' (anymore)," Parker said, "but instead is (replacing the logo) it something we should or have to do?"
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This Associated Press story also appeared in the:
Union Leader
Portsmouth Herald
Concord Monitor
Conway Daily Sun
Rutland Herald
Worcester Telegram & Gazette
Boston Globe
WHDH-TV
